The Palestinian Hamas movement has resumed relations with Iran after a temporary disagreement over the Syrian conflict, a senior member of the Islamist movement said on Monday.
“Relations between Hamas and Iran have resumed,” AFP quoted Mahmud al-Zahar as telling reporters at a news conference in Gaza, the Palestinian enclave ruled by Hamas since 2007.
Ties had been “affected by the Syria situation, and Hamas has withdrawn from Syria so that it can't be identified with this or that side,” he said.
“We’ve confirmed we are not interfering in the Syrian case, or in any other Arab country.”
Shiite Iran had long supported the Sunni Hamas against their shared enemy Israel.
But exiled Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal left his base in Damascus after the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, criticizing President Bashar al-Assad, a key ally of Iran, and moving to the Sunni Gulf state of Qatar.
After Meshaal leaving Damascus, reports alluded that Hamas was supporting the Syrian rebels against Iran-backed Shiite supporters of President Bashar al-Assad, such as the Lebanese movement Hezbollah.

Hamas resumes ties with Iran after Syria dispute

Palestinian Hamas militants take part in a military parade marking the first anniversary of the eight-day conflict with Israel, in Gaza City November 14, 2013. (Reuters)
Al Arabiya News
Tuesday 10 December 2013
Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 09:41 - GMT 06:41
DAY | WEEK |
-
6993 Views Full moon to align directly above Kaaba in Mecca on Jan. 28
-
4043 Views Coronavirus: Dubai’s new restrictions disappoint hospitals; entertainers struggle on
-
367 Views Iran executes second wrestler months after executing champion wrestler Navid Afkari
-
204 Views Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia to get AstraZeneca shots in about a week from India
-
169 Views Preparation on coronavirus vaccine variant upgrade has begun, says Fauci
-
91 Views Coronavirus: French institute, American company abandon COVID-19 vaccine
-
22986 Views Coronavirus: Dubai temporarily postpones Pfizer vaccine campaign amid global shortage
-
10962 Views Coronavirus: Dubai orders hospitals to cancel surgeries amid surge in COVID-19 cases
-
8724 Views The American University of Beirut’s battle for survival
-
8281 Views Coronavirus: Dubai suspends live entertainment permits as COVID-19 cases surge
-
8009 Views Coronavirus: Dubai's latest COVID-19 rules for weddings, restaurants, gyms, concerts
-
7183 Views Veteran talk show host Larry King dead at age 87: Statement
SHOW MORE