Budd Calls on Turkey to extradite Hamas leaders

On Friday, Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC, issued a statement calling on Turkey to extradite Hamas leaders to the United States. This was a joint statement along with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-IA, and Sen. Roger Wicker, R-MS, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, following the Hamas leaders’ recent eviction from Qatar.

“It is disappointing that Turkey has welcomed Hamas leaders with open arms following Qatar’s eviction of these terrorists,” said Sens. Budd, Ernst, and Wicker in a press release.  “On October 7th, 2023, Hamas murdered 46 Americans and kidnapped 12. Seven U.S. citizens remain hostage in Gaza, even after the brutal execution of Hersh Goldberg-Polin while in captivity. This is in addition to countless other citizens of NATO allies who were also murdered and kidnapped. It is unbecoming of a NATO member to harbor foreign designated terrorists with allied blood and hostages on its hands, particularly ones who have already been criminally indicted. We urge Turkey to abide by the U.S.-Turkey bilateral extradition treaty and immediately arrest and transfer over those Hamas leaders who have been indicted in U.S. courts for their heinous crimes. This is an opportunity to improve Turkish-congressional relations and strengthen the bonds of our friendship.”

Qatar finally evicted Hamas leaders from Doha earlier this month while under pressure from the US. This decision also came just days after Donald J. Trump was re-elected as the 47th President of the United States. Budd praised the move, describing it as welcome” but “long overdue.” 

In January, Budd was able to see firsthand the devastation caused by Hamas attacks on Oct 7 at the Kibbutz Nir Oz in Israel, when he was part of a congressional delegation to the Middle East. 

Budd spoke on the Senate floor on Oct 25, 2023, concerning the hostage situation in Gaza; this includes 64-year-old North Carolina native Keith Samuel Sigel, who remains in captivity to this day. 

After returning from the congressional delegation in January, Budd and Ernst co-authored an op-ed in Fox News, marking the hostages’ hundredth day in captivity. 

In March, Budd and Ernst issued a joint statement, along with several other senators, calling for the eviction of Hamas leaders currently residing in Doha.

“Enough is enough. It is crystal clear that Hamas has no interest in reasonable negotiations to release hostages from Gaza, including U.S. citizens,” said the senators in a joint statement. “Qatar’s harboring and support have led Hamas to believe that it can kill and kidnap Americans with impunity. This must end now. We urge the Biden administration to demand that Qatar expel Hamas from Doha immediately. Until Doha acts against the Hamas leaders it is currently sheltering, we will work with our colleagues to hold Qatar accountable for its support of this vile terrorist group.”

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