Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received on Wednesday a Palestinian delegation that included several factions, including the Hamas movement, which announced turning the page on the dispute with the Syrian regime.
The movement, which had closed its offices in Damascus in 2012, stressed that its decision to return to the country was voluntary.
The official Syrian news agency, SANA, stated that Assad discussed with the Palestinian delegation “the results of the reconciliation talks” that took place between the factions in Algiers during the past few days.
“What is happening now in all the Palestinian territories proves that the new generations still adhere to the resistance,” Assad was quoted as saying.
He added: “Despite the war that Syria is facing, [the country] has not changed its positions in support of the resistance in any way.”
SANA quoted members of the Palestinian delegation as praising Syria’s support for the “resistance” and considering that “Syria is the strategic depth of Palestine.”
In a press conference held by the factions in Damascus, member of the Hamas political bureau Khalil al-Hayya described Assad’s meeting with the Palestinian delegation as “warm.”
“We agreed with President Assad to turn the page of the past,” he stated.
“We will follow up with the Syrian officials the arrangements for (Hamas) to remain in Syria… We will resume our presence and work together in support of our people and the stability of the country.”
Sources in Damascus reported that the restoration of relations between Hamas and the Syrian regime was prompted by Iran and mediated by the Lebanese Hezbollah, with the aim of “rearranging the alliances” in light of international developments.
Hamas was part of Iran’s axis before the start of the conflict in Syria in 2011. Back then, the movement’s support of the uprising against Assad caused great anger among Iran and Hezbollah. Those saw Hamas’ stance a “coup against the country that gave the movement a foothold and backed it for many years.”
This pushed Hamas to leave Damascus for Qatar, while Iran cut off its financial support to the movement.
Four years later, Tehran and Hamas were able to mend ties, through Hezbollah’s intervention. The relationship developed in 2019, when Haniyeh hinted that the road was open to restore relations with Syria.
