Hamas in overdrive to restore regional ties
Hamas is pursuing a policy of neutrality while it reaches out to regional capitals to end its crippling isolation.
It is no secret that Hamas has been trying to rebuild its relations around the region which have deteriorated in recent years, most notably those with Iran, as a result of its stance vis-à-vis Syria, and with Egypt, following the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Al-Monitor learned that as part of the effort to break Hamas out of its isolation, Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh made eight telephone calls to Arab leaders during the first week of April. On the receiving end were the emir of Qatar and his father, the presidents of Tunisia and Yemen, the prime ministers of Malaysia, Jordan and Morocco, as well as the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia.
Furthermore, on March 25 Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal sent a letter to the emir of Kuwait explaining the situation in Palestine. On April 11, a Hamas delegation visited Lebanese Information Minister Ramzi Jreij to discuss its support for the neutrality of the Palestinian camps in Lebanon and its rejection of their use to undermine the state's security.
Hamas delegations had also visited Lebanese political forces in late February and early March. They ventured into Christian areas for the first time to clear the Palestinian name after a spate of suicide attacks in which some Palestinians were alleged to have participated.
