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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.

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Saudi-Hamas liaison officer Mohammed al-Khodari, seen in a still from a video uploaded Sept. 14, 2019. — YouTube/Aljazeera Media Library

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.

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