Hamas MPs visit Lebanon for ‘support’

By Wasim Saif al-Din

BEIRUT

A parliamentary delegation from Palestinian group Hamas arrived in Lebanon on Wednesday as part of a foreign tour, according to the group.

In a statement, Hamas said the visit is part of a foreign tour to keep Arab, Islamic and foreign states informed on the latest developments of the Palestinian cause.

“The visit also aims to mobilize the powers of the nation and the free world to continue their support for the Palestinian people and their just cause in face of the Israeli occupation backed by the U.S. administration,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the Hamas delegation will hold talks with Lebanese officials and parliamentary blocs as well as visiting Palestinian refugee camps in the country.

The Hamas delegation had visited Turkey last month as part of the tour. It also visited South Africa before Lebanon.

In an earlier interview with Anadolu Agency, Mahmoud al-Zahar, the head of Hamas’ parliamentary bloc, said the tour aims to emphasize the "legitimacy of the Palestinian Legislative Council (parliament)."

The Palestinian Legislative Council has remained largely non-functional since 2007 due to fundamental political differences between Hamas (which runs the Gaza Strip) and Fatah (which controls the West Bank-based Palestinian government).