Hamas' foreign relations chief, Osama Hamdan, announced news of the upcoming delegation to Tehran.
By YASSER OKBI/ MAARIV HASHAVUAUpdated: JUNE 10, 2017 18:29Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh(photo credit: REUTERS)
Hamas announced on Saturday that Hamas Politburo chairman, Ismail Haniyeh, will soon visit Iran and lead a delegation of senior Hamas leaders.Hamas' foreign relations chief, Osama Hamdan, announced that "the delegation, headed by Ismail Haniyeh, will soon visit Iran, as part of a wider tour including other countries." Hamdan did not specify which other countries would be visited.Hamdan added that a further Hamas delegation headed by Yahya Sanwar, head of Hamas' political bureau in Gaza, that is currently visiting Cairo will return to the Gaza Strip. Soon after, Haniyeh will lead the delegation to Tehran."The visit to the Egyptian capital was a positive one, and it could lead to understandings on issues affecting the two sides," said Hamdan.Hamdan stated that some of the organization's leaders left Qatar "following the reorganization of the group following internal elections." According to Hamdan, their departure from Doha preceded Qatar's recent demands of the group. Nevertheless, he added, "that should not stop us from taking positive steps to reduce the pressure from Qatar."Translation by Eytan Halon.
