Former Hamas political chief slams US embassy move

By Mucahit Turetken and Ammar Nas

ISTANBUL

Former Hamas political chief Khaled Meshaal on Saturday condemned the U.S. decision of moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Washington announced on Friday that it would move its embassy on May 14, to coincide with the day the state of Israel was established and officially recognized by the U.S. administration in 1948.

"We are against this decision and we will not allow it to take place. We will oppose any resistance to the Palestinian cause," Meshaal said, speaking at the War, Migration and Poverty symposium organised by Istanbul-based Fatih Sultan Mehmet University.

"We hope Turkey will put pressure on the U.S.," he said.

"Turkey helps Gaza, Al-Quds [Jersualem], Iraq, Myanmar and many countries in Africa. I believe Turkey will get something good through these efforts in return. We saw that they got Allah’s help and blessings on July 15, 2016."

Turkey thwarted a coup attempt on July 15, 2016 which was orchestrated by Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen. The defeated plot left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

The decision of the U.S., which will dispatch its ambassador to Israel and staff to Jerusalem, came after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson approved the final security plan for the relocation late Thursday, even though Vice President Mike Pence said earlier it would happen by the end of 2019.

The current embassy complex in Tel Aviv will still be in service as the U.S. consulate and will become a branch of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.

According to U.S. media reports, the U.S. ambassador to Israel has received many offers from Jewish donors who say they are willing to fund the new building for the project.

U.S. President Donald Trump has also considered accepting donations from well-known casino owner and business magnate Sheldon Adelson, who comes from a Jewish family.

Additionally, according to the reports, the reason behind the donations is to make it more difficult to reverse Trump's decision to move the embassy in the future.

The Palestinian territories have remained tense since early last December, when Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The move sparked angry demonstrations across the territories -- and multiple clashes with Israeli troops -- that have left at least 25 Palestinians dead to date.