A Palestinian source in Damascus refuted Israeli claims of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operating in Syria. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar had indicated these groups were attempting to establish an additional front against Israel. Meanwhile, the Syrian government is reported to have shut down Palestinian faction offices, and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed military actions to counter perceived threats along the border.
A Palestinian source based in Damascus has asserted that neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Islamic Jihad maintains a military presence in Syria. This statement follows remarks from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who claimed during a meeting in Brussels that these groups are establishing a front against Israel in Syria. Sa’ar characterized the new Syrian government under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa as a “Jihadist Islamist terror group.”
According to the Palestinian source, such allegations are unfounded and crafted by Israel to obscure its intentions regarding Syria post-Assad regime. The source emphasized that this rhetoric is a diversion from Israel’s plans relating to Syrian developments.
In further developments, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed airstrikes on Syrian regime positions, stating these were necessary due to attempts by the new government to deploy forces in demilitarized zones near Israel’s border. Katz reiterated that Israel will persist in maintaining its strategic presence in southern Syria to thwart Iranian influence and potential terrorist acts.
The Palestinian source expressed that Israel aims to leverage the tumultuous situation in Syria to dismantle military infrastructure connected to Palestinian factions. Additionally, it was noted that under the new government, offices of various Palestinian organizations have been shut down, with Fatah being the only group still operating as an organization.
Mu’ayyad Qabalan, political researcher and advisor to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, remarked that Hamas’s presence in Syria “is not permitted” and denounced Israel’s claims as “fabrications.” He alluded to the notion that a weakened Syria would be advantageous to Israeli interests.
In conclusion, the ongoing discourse regarding the alleged presence of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Syria appears to be a strategic narrative utilized by Israel to justify military interventions and assert its influence in the region. The statements from Palestinian sources and officials within the Syrian government challenge these claims, suggesting an alternative perspective on the evolving geopolitical landscape in Syria.
Original Source: www.jpost.com
