Hamas official denies Syrian expulsion

Salah Al-Bardaweel, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza, confirmed that the Syrian government had not asked Hamas leaders to shut down their Damascus branch. Previous press reports suggested that the Syrian government had asked Hamas to close its offices and withdraw from Damascus as a result of its position on the events in Syria. “All that has been said on this issue is just rumour.” “The Syrian government has not informed us of any new position and has not asked us to leave Syria,” Al-Bardaweel added in a press statement issued on Wednesday. “Hamas does not make decisions based on assumptions and things that have not yet happened.” He also stressed that Hamas’ power does not depend on its Syrian presence, as it has several other branches across the world. Al-Bardaweel criticised the Syrian opposition member, Fareed Alghadri, who has claimed that “The Israeli flag will be raised in Damascus one day, ensuring that Hamas and other Palestinian movements will be expelled from Syria because they use violence.” Al-Bardaweel also confirmed that Hamas’ position on Syria is to not interfere in internal affairs, stressing that Syria has always provided support to Hamas. He hopes the situation in Syria will improve.