The fact that Turkey is an ardent supporter of the terrorist Hamas is undeniable, with Erdogan describing it as a "liberation organisation" and the State of Israel, together with its Prime Minister Netanyahu, as "terrorists", constituting a unique "dissonance" of NATO and the West in general.
In addition, the Turkish President has unsuccessfully tried to rally the Muslim countries against Israel, while seeking for his country the role of guarantor of the Palestinians once the war in Gaza, which he wishes to rebuild, is over.
The Israelis have confiscated thousands of weapon parts and moulds of counterfeit coins sent by the Turks to the West Bank
However, it did not stop there, as according to International Media, "Israeli authorities dismantled a shipment of weapons from Turkey to the West Bank," noting:
Israeli authorities thwarted an attempt on December 21 to smuggle thousands of weapons components into the West Bank.
According to a joint statement from the Israeli police and the Israeli Tax Authority, inspectors found an automatic weapon and rifle parts inside an industrial weaving machine that weighed several tons and was 10 meters (33 feet) long. The cargo, which arrived from Turkey at the port of Ashdod, was destined for the West Bank city of Nablus, a hotbed of Palestinian terrorist activity.
Authorities also found moulds of counterfeit coins in the shipment.
With the assistance of the Israel Defense Forces, police arrested three suspects on suspicion of trafficking and importing illegal weapons for terrorist activities, including two elderly Nablus residents and an Arab Israeli resident of Tayibe.
US experts are condemning Turkey
"At some point, the international community will wake up to the fact that Turkey has become a state sponsor of terrorism. The country is not just a safe haven for Hamas. It is not just the hub of Hamas' financial portfolio. It is now the transit point for weapons of war destined for violent Palestinian factions.
The United States has warned Turkey that it must lift its support for Hamas.
Until now, Ankara has flatly denied it. It is now incumbent on Washington to impose tough sanctions, not on more Hamas officials, but on the government of Turkey itself," said Jonathan Schanzer, FDD Senior Vice President for Research.
Mind you, "The Foundation for Defense of Democracies" (FDD), is a non-partisan research institute based in Washington, D.C.,that focuses on national security and foreign policy.
"The latest seizure of arms originating from Turkey confirms what is already widely known: Turkey is a major conduit for shipments of arms and raw materials to Hamas and possibly other terrorist groups.
In July, Israeli authorities seized tons of dual-use materials originating from Turkey and used to make explosives and rockets. The possibility of these shipments being carried out without the knowledge or even the blessing of the Erdogan government is highly unlikely." notes Sinan Ciddi, FDD Non-Resident Senior Fellow
Turkey's arms smuggling
A few months ago, Israeli customs authorities discovered 16 tons of explosive material en route from Turkey to the Gaza Strip .
According to the Israeli tax authority spokesman, customs agents in Ashdod inspected two containers allegedly containing 54 tonnes of plaster material.
After testing the material in a laboratory, the authorities concluded that some of the bags contained ammonium chloride, a dual-use chemical used in the manufacture of missiles.
Turkey protects and supports Palestinian terrorists
Turkey, a NATO member, has long provided a safe haven for leaders and members of Palestinian terrorist organizations.
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, former Hamas leader Khaled Mashal and Hamas political bureau vice president and senior military official Saleh al-Arouri have met openly with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on several occasions, including in July and October this year.
Ankara has reportedly provided Aruri and Haniyeh with residence permits and Turkish passports, which would allow them to travel internationally without hindrance.
Aruri is designated a terrorist by the US, with a $5 million bounty on his head.
On 13 December, the United States and the United Kingdom jointly imposed sanctions on eight additional economic officials and Hamas representatives living in Turkey. They are accused of raising money for the terrorist group."
