Hamas breaks silence on its leader detained by Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia arrested Hamas leader Mohammed al-Khodari, his son and a number of Palestinians, ushering in increased tension in relations between the two sides.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Hamas announced Sept. 9 that Saudi Arabia has been unjustly detaining since April 4 one of its most prominent leaders, the Saudi-Hamas liaison officer Mohammed al-Khodari. This comes as part of a campaign of arrests, including several Palestinians residing in Riyadh. Hamas’ announcement after five months of silence exposed the heightened tensions between Riyadh and Hamas.
Hamas said in a statement on its official website that Khodari, 81, had been in charge of managing relations with Saudi Arabia for two decades and has occupied senior leadership positions in the movement. It noted that his arrest is strange and reprehensible, and demanded his release and the release of all Palestinian detainees held by Saudi Arabia.
On Sept. 7, the Geneva-based Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor said in a statement that it could not give an exact figure for the number of Palestinian detainees, but had obtained the names of about 60 detainees. “Estimates within the Palestinian community in Saudi Arabia say that the number far exceeds this,” the statement added.
The human rights monitor said detainees included students, residents, academics and businessmen.
