The U.S. Treasury Department’s top counterterrorism official said on Thursday that he had spoken with the Turkish government about the United States’ deep concern about funding for Hamas in Turkey, Reuters reported.

Turkey plays a “significant” role in Hamas’ financing schemes, and the terrorist group is likely to use it to raise more money in the context of a war with Israel, said Brian Nelson, the US Treasury’s undersecretary for financial and terrorism intelligence.

“We are deeply concerned about Hamas’ ability to continue to raise funds and find financial support [aici în Turcia] for possible future terrorist attacks,” Nelson said in Istanbul after meeting with government officials and members of the Turkish business community.

Unlike most of its NATO allies, including some Gulf states, Turkey does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization, and President Recep Erdogan has for years presented himself as a defender of the Palestinian cause.

Erdogan has said in recent weeks that Hamas is “fighting for freedom,” has called Israel a “terrorist state” and his prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, a “Gaza killer” over bombings in the eastern Mediterranean enclave.

Hamas will also ask for money from Turkish investment funds

The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has imposed sanctions on several entities and individuals in Turkey in an effort to limit funding to Hamas following its surprise attack on Israel on October 7.

Nelson also said that Turkey is connected to previous efforts by Hamas to raise funds from individual donors, investment funds, charities and non-governmental organizations.

He warned that while Turkey considers Hamas a legitimate organization, the group may be guilty of violating Turkish law, without giving specific examples.

“There is ample opportunity for Turkey to resolve this matter through its own domestic legal authorities, unrelated to US sanctions,” the US official said.

Nelson also said he was told by Turkish government officials that Ankara would not tolerate violations of its anti-money laundering or direct financing of violence laws, even though it does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization.

Nelson also spoke about the prospect of additional sanctions against Turkish entities suspected by Washington of helping Russia circumvent Western sanctions and importing goods subject to the sanctions regime.