Strategic Assessment
While the deterioration in Israel-Turkey relations over the past decade is rooted in many factors, perhaps what exemplifies the deterioration most are the good relations forged between the Justice and Development Party-led government and Hamas. This article explores the developments in recent years in Turkey-Hamas relations and analyzes Turkey’s primary motivation in strengthening its relations with Hamas. The article looks into the strategic, ideological, and domestic considerations behind Turkish policies vis-à-vis Hamas, and claims that the Mavi Marmara crisis and its aftermath have to a large degree cemented this relationship, even if with limitations. Consequently, Israel will find it very hard to distance these two actors one from another.