Hamas entangled in regional polarization
While Hamas welcomed the recent statements made by Qatari Ambassador Mohammed al-Emadi regarding support for the Gaza Strip, it denounced Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir’s accusation that Hamas is an extremist movement, which shows a new alignment in the region.
After Hamas had been absent from Arab officials’ media statements, supporting and opposing Arab officials issued several political statements during the last week of February, prompting Hamas to respond with both positive and negative statements. Hamas has been seeking to stay away from the tension plaguing the region, but the Palestinian cause seems to form an integral part of the regional disputes.
During a conference in the Gaza Strip on Feb. 25, Mohammed al-Emadi, Qatar’s ambassador to Gaza and the chairman of Qatar's Gaza Reconstruction Committee, blamed the Palestinian Authority, Egypt and Israel for the worsening economic situation in Gaza. Following Emadi's arrival in Gaza on Feb. 19, Hamas lauded Qatar's positions and assistance to the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Feb. 24 in a speech to the European Parliament in Brussels that Hamas was an extremist movement. He accused Qatar of allowing Hamas to raise funds and spread hatred. On the same day, Hamas denounced Jubeir’s statement and said it was aimed at encouraging Israel to commit crimes against the Palestinian people.
Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas' political bureau and head of Arab and Islamic relations for the movement, told Al-Monitor, “Hamas is seeking to unite Arab and Islamic efforts in a bid to defend Palestinian national rights.”
