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Turkey<\/a>\u00a0has denied any involvement in an alleged plot to assassinate Israel\u2019s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, calling the claims a \u201cdisinformation campaign”.<\/p>\n In a statement, the Turkish Presidency\u2019s Centre for Countering Disinformation said the allegations were \u201cfed to the Israeli media\u201d as if they were recent, when in fact the incidents took place eight months ago.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Israel\u2019s Shin Bet security agency announced that four suspects had been arrested in connection with the plot. Investigators said the group planned to carry out an attack during the upcoming Jewish holiday season, when they believed Ben Gvir would be attending prayers.<\/p>\n According to a report by Ynet, one of the suspects had moved to Turkey several years ago, where he came into contact with Hamas members. \u201cDuring the war in Gaza, he allegedly devised the plan to assassinate Ben Gvir using armed drones,\u201d the report\u00a0said<\/a>.<\/p>\n The suspects reportedly received around $2,000 from contacts in Turkey to purchase drones and other equipment. Police told Ynet the group bought two DJI drones, attached explosives, and conducted a successful test drop.<\/p>\n The reports suggested that the plot was coordinated with Hamas leadership based in Turkey. However, Turkish officials have consistently maintained that Ankara hosts only the political leadership of Hamas and does not provide military support to the group.<\/p>\n Citing Israeli sources, Ynet\u00a0reported that Turkey restricts Hamas members to stay no more than three months per visit. A Hamas source told the outlet that Ankara enforces specific rules on Hamas members, warning that violations could result in deportation.<\/p>\n As part of the 2011 prisoner exchange that freed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Israel deported dozens of Hamas members.<\/p>\n While some were sent to Gaza or the occupied West Bank, others were relocated abroad, including to Turkey<\/p>\n The Turkish Centre for Countering Disinformation argued that the leaks targeting Turkey were an attempt to undermine Ankara\u2019s policies on\u00a0Palestine<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tensions between Turkey and Israel have escalated in recent months. Turkey\u00a0ended<\/a>\u00a0trade with Israel last year and last month\u00a0called<\/a>\u00a0on states to suspend Israel’s membership to the UN General Assembly over its\u00a0genocide in Gaza<\/a>.<\/p>\n Turkey recently\u00a0imposed<\/a>\u00a0additional restrictions on Israeli-owned and affiliated vessels, barring them from docking at Turkish ports.<\/p>\n These shipping measures follow Ankara\u2019s announcement last month of six\u00a0sanctions against Israel<\/a>, in line with\u00a0The Hague Group<\/a>\u2019s joint statement from the Emergency Conference on Palestine in Bogota.<\/p>\n Last year\u00a0Turkey joined<\/a>\u00a0South Africa\u2019s case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.<\/p>\n Since then, Ankara has increasingly used international platforms to build an alliance against\u00a0Israel\u2019s genocide in Gaza<\/a>.<\/p>\n