Hamas intends to visit Syria to restore relations
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Delegation of Hamas, a Palestinian Islamic group, intends to visit Syria on Wednesday to rebuild relations after years of estrangement on the background of protests, and then civil war, the country has been witnessing since 2011.
Reuters said, in a report, citing two Hamas officials as saying that the group had decided to restore relations with Syria.
Hamas supported the 2011 street uprising against Syrian government and vacated their headquarters in Damascus in 2012, which disturbed their Iranian ally.
“Hamas has eased into the process slowly, fearing a backlash from its mostly Sunni Muslim financiers … most of the victims of Assad’s crackdown in Syria were Sunnis,” according to the officials.
Normalizing ties with the Syrian government may restore Hamas’ inclusion in a so-called “axis of resistance” against Israel.
Reuters said, quoting Mustafa Sawwaf, a Palestinian politician, as saying, “Hamas’ reconciliatory move towards Syria aims to create new ground for the Islamist faction.”