Hamas movement has condemned the statements made by the US Department of State to object to senior Hamas officials' visit to Turkey.

Response to the US remarks, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasem said that such a position reflects the "bullying and terrorism" exercised by the US administration. 

"Hamas is a national movement that is in a freedom struggle against the Israeli occupation and its terrorism… The Israeli leaders are the ones who must be designated as global terrorists and be isolated by the international community for criminal acts and atrocities perpetrated against the Palestinian people," added Qasem.