Hamas' Saudi Arabia visit was religious, not political: Official

 

Hamas Saudi Arabia visit was religious, not political: Official
The comments were aimed at downplaying speculation that Hamas was improving relations with Saudi Arabia, which is suspicious of Hamas' political ideology and the group's ties to Iran.

Riyadh - Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and other officials from the militant Palestinian group visited the holy city of Makkah last week.

By AP

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Published: Thu 23 Jul 2015, 6:42 PM

Last updated: Thu 23 Jul 2015, 9:01 PM

Saudi Arabia's top diplomat says a recent visit by the leader of Hamas was for religious purposes and was not an official political visit to the kingdom.
Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and other officials from the militant Palestinian group visited the holy city of Makkah last week, with Hamas saying Meshaal shook hands with King Salman and prayed alongside the monarch.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir's comments on Thursday were aimed at downplaying speculation that Hamas was improving relations with Saudi Arabia, which is suspicious of Hamas' political ideology and the group's ties to Iran.
Hamas' relations to Saudi Arabia have been strained since a Saudi-brokered reconciliation agreement between the group and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction broke down a decade ago.


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