Turkey’s Center for Combating Disinformation on Thursday denied Israeli media reports linking Ankara to an alleged Hamas plot to assassinate Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, calling the claims a “deliberate disinformation campaign.”
The center, part of the Turkish presidency’s Directorate of Communications, said the allegations were tied to an incident from about eight months ago, not a recent development. It added that the suspects detained in Israel had “clearly stated they had no connection to Turkey,” a point also confirmed by Red Cross officials.
The statement warned that the reports were aimed at creating a false impression of Turkey in the international arena and undermining its policy on Palestine.
The denial followed reports in Israeli outlets including the Times of Israel and the Jerusalem Post, which said the Shin Bet security agency had disrupted a Hamas cell in Hebron plotting to kill Ben-Gvir with explosive drones.
According to Israeli investigators, the three-member group purchased drones and explosives with about $2,000 in funding allegedly provided by Hamas operatives in Turkey. They reportedly monitored the minister’s social media accounts, planning to attack him during a visit to Hebron’s Cave of the Patriarchs.
The Times of Israel reported that the suspects were acting “under the command” of Hamas leadership in Turkey. The Jerusalem Post said the cell conducted a partial test of its devices but abandoned the plan after technical failures, and that one member was arrested by the Palestinian Authority before the operation could be carried out.
Ben-Gvir, a far-right minister, thanked the Shin Bet and police for their protection and said Hamas had tried to eliminate him five times before. He vowed to continue hardline policies and pledged retaliation against militants.
According to Reuters, Israel’s Shin Bet domestic intelligence service said on Wednesday it had thwarted a plan to assassinate Ben-Gvir and that members of a Hamas cell had been arrested. The statement did not specify when the arrests occurred, while Israeli media described them as having taken place “in recent weeks.” Ankara, by contrast, has insisted the affair relates to an incident about eight months ago.
Ankara has long hosted Hamas political figures and has been accused by Israel of tolerating the group’s operations on its soil. Although Turkey and Israel restored full diplomatic ties in 2022, relations remain fragile — especially since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel and the ensuing Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
Israel withdrew its diplomats from Turkey citing security concerns, while Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel for consultations.
Turkey says the reports misrepresent past events and are part of a broader effort to damage its standing. “The real aim of these news reports is to create a deliberately misleading perception against Turkey in international public opinion, and in doing so, to harm Turkey’s policy on Palestine,” the center said.