The Hebrew newspaper "Israel Hayom" reported today, Wednesday, that Israel has asked Turkey to end the activities of Hamas on its territory.
 
According to the newspaper, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu is scheduled to hold talks today, Wednesday, with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid, and Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov, as Çavuşoğlu arrived in Israel yesterday for a two-day visit.
 
The newspaper stated that in today's meetings, Israeli officials were expected to condition improving relations with Ankara on the Turks putting an end to Hamas activities.
 
Although Israeli officials understand that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ideological relationship with Hamas makes it unlikely that he will completely stop their activities in his country, Israel plans to demand that Turkey put an end to Hamas activities, according to the newspaper.
 
The newspaper added that although Israeli officials are pleased with Turkey's efforts to repair relations, they are proceeding cautiously in this matter, fearing that Erdoğan might issue a sharp statement that could undermine the reconciliation process.
 
The newspaper clarified that no understandings have yet been reached regarding the return of ambassadors at this stage, adding that Israel does not intend to restrict its alliance with Cyprus and Greece, and has demanded Erdoğan refrain from what it called "anti-Semitic and verbal assaults" against Israel.
 
It is noted that the relationship between Turkey and Israel has remained tense for many years following the Israeli forces' attack on the "Marmara" ship in 2010, which intended to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of nine Turkish activists, after which the two countries withdrew their ambassadors.
 
Relations collapsed again in 2018 when Turkey recalled its ambassador in protest against the US embassy move to Jerusalem.
 
Israel and Turkey are working to repair their long-strained relations amid the emergence of energy as a major potential area of cooperation between the two countries.