From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Senior Hamas delegation seen in Saudi Arabia ahead of expected rapprochement talks
A senior delegation representing the Palestinian terror group Hamas has been filmed in Saudi Arabia.
Video seen on social media shows Hamas leaders, including Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh and the head of the group abroad, Khaled Mashaal, wearing white terrycloth garments symbolic of the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage as they circle Islam’s holiest site in Mecca
The arrival comes several days after Arabic media reported that the delegation would travel to the kingdom, representing a major development as Israel’s hopes of forging official ties with Riyadh appear to dwindle further.
For many years, Saudi Arabia’s relationship with Hamas has been cold and tense, and the kingdom even arrested many people with ties to the jihadist group, which rules the Gaza Strip and openly seeks Israel’s destruction.
Senior members of Hamas, including Ismail Haniyeh, Mousa Marzook, Khalil al-Hayya and Khaled Meshaal appear to have arrived in Saudi Arabia. pic.twitter.com/hE3NocISOx
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) April 18, 2023
But following its landmark rapprochement with Iran, Riyadh appeared set to host a high-level delegation that will try to mend Hamas’s relationship with Saudi Arabia, which has been frosty since 2007, when the terror group overthrew the Palestinian Authority and took over Gaza in a bloody coup. Saudi leaders had blamed Hamas for the failure of attempts at reconciliation between it and the PA’s Fatah party.
