Meeting between Al-Assad, Palestinian factions commences in Damascus

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Al Mayadeen correspondent reported Wednesday that the meeting between Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and the Palestinian factions delegation, including Hamas, has started.

Earlier, Hamas confirmed that a delegation from the movement's leadership would arrive in Damascus on Wednesday for an official visit for the first time since 2012.

In a statement, Hamas Spokesperson Hazem Qassem confirmed that a delegation from the movement, headed by the head of the Arab and Islamic Relations Office, Khalil Al-Hayya, will visit Damascus as part of a high-level delegation of officials from the Palestinian factions.

The visit comes after non-public negotiations between Hamas and the Syrian leadership, mediated by Lebanese Hezbollah, which discussed the disagreements that led the movement to leave Damascus in 2012.

On September 15, Hamas announced in a statement that it would restore its relations with Syria, which "has been supporting the Palestinian people and the Palestinian resistance factions for decades."

The movement considered that the decision is in the service of the Arab nation, "above all the Palestinian cause, especially in light of the escalating regional and international developments concerning the Palestinian cause."

During an exclusive interview for Al Mayadeen TV on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Lebanese Islamic Resistance movement Hezbollah, Sayyed Nasrallah touched on the reconciliation between Hamas and Syria, saying the Hamas leadership "arrived at a conclusion that they cannot turn their backs on Syria, for it is an integral part of the Axis of Resistance."

He also expressed his personal interest in getting the relations between Syria and Hamas back on track, as it became clear to everyone where the struggle was heading to.

Similarly, in a speech on the occasion of the Arbaeen, the event commemorating the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, Sayyed Nasrallah underlined that "the recent statement of the Hamas leadership regarding rearranging and strengthening relations with Syria is a very advanced position, and we respect this decision," stressing that "Syria, through its leadership and people, will remain the true backbone of the Palestinian people, and it bears sacrifices for it." 

The Hezbollah chief further praised Hamas' statement for its sound position, noting its correctness and importance given that all resistance forces must unite and take root in the same axis.

Saudi authorities release former Hamas representative in Riyadh

In a separate context, sources told Al Mayadeen that the Saudi authorities have released the former representative of the Hamas movement, Mohammad Al-Khudari, and the latter is being deported to Jordan.

Hamas Spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanou confirmed that the Saudi authorities released Al-Khudari, expressing the movement's hope that this will be a prelude to ending and settling the issue of all Hamas detainees and supporters in the Kingdom.

It is noteworthy that Al-Khudari, 84, suffers from cancer, which has exhausted his physique.

Amnesty International had called on Saudi Arabia to release Al-Khudari after his health deteriorated due to the lack of access to health care and his placement in poor detention conditions.

According to Hamas, the Saudi authorities arrested Al-Khudari, who was responsible for managing the movement's relationship with Riyadh, in September 2019. His arrest came as part of a campaign of arrests that targeted numerous Palestinian people residing in Saudi Arabia.