Hamas: Syria conflict impacting Iranian financial aid

Gaza's support of rebels hurting relations with Tehran, resulting in loss of financial aid from both Iran and Syria, Hamas official says.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Free Syria Army fighters in Saraqeb 370 (R) (photo credit: REUTERS / Handout)
Free Syria Army fighters in Saraqeb 370 (R)
(photo credit: REUTERS / Handout)
Hamas’s deteriorating relations with Iran and Syria have impacted financial aid to the Islamist movement, Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas official in the Gaza Strip, was quoted on Wednesday as saying.
Noting that Syria had supported Hamas financially and politically, Hamad said that his movement’s support for the Syrian “revolution” has resulted in the loss of financial aid from both Damascus and Tehran.
Hamad insisted that no country had ever dictated to Hamas a certain position or policy in return for financial aid.
“Hamas won’t allow any country to intervene in internal Palestinian affairs, even if they provide us with money and weapons” he added.
Referring to reports about growing tensions between Hamas and Egypt, Hamad claimed that under the present regime in Egypt there is “political openness” between the two sides. In contrast, he pointed out, the former regime of Hosni Mubarak maintained only security relations with Hamas.
Hamad also denied allegations that Hamas was meddling in the internal affairs of Egypt.
Earlier this week, hundreds of Egyptians demonstrated in Cairo against the visit of Hamas leaders Khaled Mashaal and Ismail Haniyeh.
The demonstrators accused Hamas of being behind a series of terror attacks against Egyptian security forces – especially in the Sinai Peninsula – over the past two years.
Hamad said that Hamas has ties with all parties in Egypt, but did not elaborate.
He said that there has never been any evidence to support the charges against Hamas.
In Ramallah, the Fatah Central Committee on Wednesday called on Hamas to stop involving Palestinians in others’ conflicts – a reference to allegations about Hamas’s alleged responsibility for terror attacks in Egypt.
“Hamas should stop meddling in the internal affairs of Arab countries and focus its efforts on reorganizing the Palestinian home and achieving national unity,” the committee said in a statement.