— An amendment to the annual defense authorization bill (NDAA) would require U.S. intelligence agencies to deliver a detailed assessment of whether Turkey has provided support to Hamas or other designated terrorist groups.

The measure directs the director of national intelligence, in coordination with the secretaries of defense, treasury, and state, to submit a report to Congress within 120 days.

The report would examine whether Turkey has offered sanctuary or financial services to Hamas or other groups on the U.S. terrorist list, whether Turkish officials have been aware of such organizations’ activities on their territory, and whether Ankara has provided military, financial or other assistance.

It is to be delivered in unclassified form, though agencies may attach a classified annex containing more sensitive findings.

Political Background

This amendment follows a classified briefing in 2024, convened after Representative Dan Goldman (D NY) requested that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence examine Turkey’s potential ties to Hamas.

That action was propelled by sustained advocacy from the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), which said it had “worked with Members of Congress to address Turkey’s support of Hamas.”

Those efforts not only led to a bipartisan letter from 39 lawmakers requesting a briefing, but also later extended to collaboration with Representative Goldman in drafting the amendment itself.

The push for these actions drew support from a coalition of prominent Jewish organizations — including the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Institute for National Security of America and FDD Action, the advocacy arm of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies — which endorsed the lawmakers’ letter calling for a briefing.

The bipartisan effort was led by Representatives Dan Goldman, Josh Gottheimer (D NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R FL), and Nicole Malliotakis (R NY), who co signed the letter urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken and DNI Avril Haines to probe whether Ankara was providing sanctuary to Hamas leaders.

Policy Significance

The demand for a formal report underscores persistent unease in Congress over Turkey’s relationship with Hamas, even as the Trump administration has sought to stabilize ties with Ankara. Lawmakers say the findings could help shape future policy and legislative action, and bear directly on Washington’s expectations of Turkey’s reliability as a NATO ally