Hamas denied Wednesday reports that Syrian authorities told Palestinian leaders based in Damascus to leave the country, according to a German news agency.
German news agency DPA quoted Ezzat al-Rashq, a member of Hamas' political bureau, as saying “News circulated by media channels are untrue. It was fabricated by agencies that seek to disturb the Palestinian resistance movement leaders who preserve good relations with Syrian people and authorities. “
Al-Rashq stressed that the movement has strong strategic relations with Damascus.
Leaders of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine have been living in Damascus for years, in addition to around 700,000 Palestinian refugees who live in Syria.
However, Palestinian websites quoted anonymous sources who said Syrian officials told Hamas and Jihad leaders that they were no longer welcome and must leave immediately.
The sources said several Palestinian and Arab authorities had already warned Hamas leadership to leave the Syrian capital for their own safety.
Officials of the Islamic Jihad are planning to travel to Tehran, according to the sources.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
