Israeli Authorities Link Turkey-Based Hamas Branch to Failed Suicide Bombing in Tel Aviv

Latest Developments

Israeli authorities revealed on October 15 that the Hamas branch in Turkey planned and directed the August 18 suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.  The bomber, Hamas operative Jaafar Muna from Nablus, carried a backpack filled with explosives through southern Tel Aviv, which detonated prematurely, injuring one civilian. Muna was killed instantly in the attack.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack the following day and threatened to resume suicide bombings to halt the ongoing Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip.

The Shin Bet and Israel Police released new information in a joint statement on October 15 linking this attack with a Hamas branch based in Turkey. Along with the bomber himself, other terrorist operatives received explicit direction from Turkey-based senior Hamas member Abada Bilal, with one of the terrorists even traveling to Turkey throughout the planning phase of the bombing attack. In total, eight people were indicted on terrorism charges linked to the attack, and an additional East Jerusalem resident was arrested for transporting the terrorist.

Turkey does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization and regularly provides refuge for the group’s members. Additionally, the country has funded Hamas in the past, giving the group hundreds of millions of dollars in financial assistance.

Expert Analysis

“Time after time, the breadcrumbs lead back to Turkey as a major staging ground for Hamas-orchestrated terrorist acts inside Israel. Hamas’s ability to fundraise, recruit, and further its terror infrastructure is left totally unchecked by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government. In fact, Erdogan frequently congratulates Hamas for ‘bravely’ resisting Israel on every occasion, most recently at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York. Additionally, Erdogan is furthering escalatory rhetoric, accusing Israel of harboring intentions to invade Turkey. Under his stewardship of Turkey, Erdogan represents a clear and present danger to the entire region.” — Sinan Ciddi, FDD Non-Resident Senior Fellow

“Hamas continues to operate openly and with impunity in Turkey. The latest evidence from security authorities shows Hamas agents in Turkey provided training and cash to Hamas operatives in Nablus who traveled to Tel Aviv with the intention of launching multiple mass casualty attacks. This new revelation follows the recent U.S. terror designations of individuals and entities operating in Turkey that funneled millions of dollars to Hamas operatives. Turkey remains a jurisdiction of terror financing and facilitation, which emboldens Hamas and allows the terror group to operationalize its campaign to murder Israelis.” —Tyler Stapleton, Director of Congressional Relations at FDD Action

Related Analysis

“10 Things to Know About Hamas and Turkey,” FDD Insight

“The Turkey-Hamas Nexus,” by Jonathan Schanzer

“U.S. Sanctions Additional Hamas Operatives With Ties to Turkey,” by Sinan Ciddi