Hamas in Moscow to mend ties with Syrian regime
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh's visit to Moscow is seen as a potential move to repair relations the Syrian regime.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said March 4 that his movement supports the sovereignty of the Syrian government over all Syrian territories. At a press conference in Moscow, Haniyeh said the Syrian regime and people have given nothing but great support to Hamas for many years.
Hamas leaders met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the Kremlin on March 2.
“Damascus represents a strategic depth for the Palestinian issue,” Haniyeh said.
“We had been present in Syria for 10 years," he said. "We cannot forget this history. There is no policy or any decision by Hamas to engage in the Syrian issue, and I firmly deny the presence of any fighter or martyrs of Hamas in Idlib, or before the [events] of Idlib, or even in the Syrian revolution.” He expressed hope that stability and security would return to Syria so it could return to exercising its natural role in the region.
