Hamas Spurns Egyptian Mediation After Terrorist Listing

A source close to Hamas’ armed wing said that the group would no longer accept Cairo as a broker between it and Israel, after an Egyptian court banned the Islamist group’s armed wing and listed it as a terrorist organization.

“After the court’s decision Egypt is no longer a mediator in Palestinian-Israeli matters,” the source told Reuters. Cairo has played a key role in brokering ceasefires between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip numerous times, including that of Operation Protective Edge last summer.

Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar on Sunday called on Iran to provide his movement with the wherewithal to “destroy Israeli occupation.” Zahar told the Hizbullah station Al-Manar that Hamas would work with Iran “for the sake of Palestine,” The Jerusalem Post reported.

Zahar’s remarks came amid reports that Hamas and Iran are repairing their relations, which have been under strain following the Hamas refusal to support the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Sources confirmed that Iran has agreed to resume financial aid to Hamas in the aftermath of last summer’s fighting.

This article appeared in print on page 6 of the February 2nd, 2015 edition of Hamodia.