Member of Hamas Political Bureau Khalil al-Hayya has defended ties between Hamas and Iran.
The participation of a Hamas delegation in the funeral of Iranian Al-Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani expresses loyalty to this man who “extended support to us, he was a man who loved Palestine, he believed in the necessity of liberating it from the occupation and he was a supporter of the Palestinian resistance and people,” Hayya said.
Hayya stated that the visit of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to Iran wasn’t the first, slamming the media attack and explaining that the movement had visited before seeking to mobilize support.
Further, he asserted that Hamas doesn’t compete with the representation of the Palestine Liberation Organization – in fact, it is a national Palestinian movement that has a powerful presence.
Hayya added that Hamas adopts a clear strategy to face challenges threatening the Palestinian cause. Hamas acts responsibly and has a sharp approach against the occupational procedures towards the land and people, he stressed.
In a related matter, the Israeli army attacked Thursday morning Hamas locations in Gaza in retaliation for four rockets fired from the strip.
Two of the incoming projectiles were intercepted by the military’s Iron Dome air defense system. The other two appeared to strike open fields.
“A short time ago, a combat helicopter attacked infrastructure used for underground activity by the Hamas terror organization in the northern Gaza Strip,” the Israel army said in a statement.
There were no immediate reports from Gaza on damage or casualties in the strikes.
