Hamas on Tuesday totally denied reports that its exiled supreme leader, Khaled Masha'al, had moved from Syria to Sudan, noting the strength of ties with Syria. Ismail Redwan, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, described the Hamas-Syrian ties as profound and strategic. "Our relations with Syria are strategic, profound and good," he stressed.
Earlier in the day, Palestinian sources told the Kuwait's al Rai al A'am paper that Mashaal had come to an understanding with Damascus whereby the he would leave Damascus. The report further stated that indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel may have played a part in the decision.
Meanwhile, the Hamas spokesman said the movement also received an official invitation from Cairo for internal dialogue, pointing out that Egypt will host a delegation of Hamas in the upcoming three weeks, for bilateral talks between its representatives and Egyptian officials, following a Hamas-Fatah talk. For a week now, Palestinian factions' representatives and Egyptian officials have been holding talks in the framework of Palestinian national dialogue. On the sideline of the meetings, Egypt proposed deployment of Arab troops in Gaza Strip, a suggestion Hamas' Redwan rejected.
"What is being proposed will undermine underway dialogue, as the Gaza Strip lives an unprecedented state of security and order, therefore, there is no need for such Arab forces," he said.
