Hamas Leadership Leaves Syria, Al-Alami Arrives in Gaza

Monday February 06, 2012 04:40 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

The final member of the leadership of the Hamas party left Syria on Sunday, in an attempt to separate the party from the Syrian government’s crackdown on protesters.

Previously, the Hamas party had not taken a strong stand on the Syrian government’s crackdown on protesters, and was criticized by the international community for tacitly supporting the Syrian regime.

Numerous members of the party had been based in Syria for years after having been exiled by Israeli authorities.

Imad al-Alami returned to the Gaza Strip on Sunday to a cheering crowd, after having been exiled from Gaza to South Lebanon in 1991. He arrived in Syria three years ago, where he joined Hamas politburo leader Khaled Meshaal.

Al-Alami crossed into Gaza through the Rafah crossing from Egypt, and did not say how long he plans to remain in Gaza.

In a press conference at the Gaza border, Al-Alami told reporters that he was happy to be back in Gaza, but his happiness was incomplete because of the six million Palestinian refugees still living in the diaspora.

The move by the Hamas party was criticized by the Iranian government, which continues to support the Syrian government. According to the United Nations, an estimated 2,000 civilians have been killed by the Syrian government since last year, when the popular uprising began.

Hamas leader returns to Gaza after 21 years in exile

[ 06/02/2012 - 10:57 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Political bureau member of Hamas Imad Al-Alami returned to Gaza Strip on Sunday night after 21 years in exile.

He said on arrival that his joy at returning to Gaza was not complete as many of his comrades and his father were not present while millions of other Palestinians were still refugees.

Alami said that victory omens were rampant but a lot of work still has to be done, adding that Hamas would continue along the path of resistance until liberation of Palestine.

Alami was arrested in 1988 on charges of launching media campaign in favor of Hamas and released in late 1990 then banished to Lebanon along with three other Hamas members four months after his release.

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.