Saudi visit thaws relations between Kingdom and Hamas

The recent Hamas visit to Saudi Arabia has paved the way to open contact lines between the two sides after three years of estrangement, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported on Sunday.

An informed source close to decision-makers in Saudi Arabia told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that both sides agreed on future visit, which might discuss the Saudi Peace Initiative with Israel.

“Both sides agreed to have an open contact line between each other,” the source said, noting that Saudi did not coordinate with the Egypt in receiving the Hamas delegation, whose relations with Hamas are currently undergoing somewhat of a crisis. The sources said that Hamas asked Saudi Arabia to mediate in ending the current stalemate with Egypt.

Whether the rapprochement between Hamas and Saudi Arabia is related to composing an Arabic coalition or bloc led by Saudi Arabia, the source said: “Hamas is not in a position to be in an alliance because it is not a state and it does not have an army. However, it has a corporeal value it achieved throughout its history in resisting the Zionist entity.”

Meanwhile, Palestinian sources revealed that the Saudis pledged to take measures towards reconstructing the Gaza Strip in order to lessen the repercussions of the latest Israeli offensive against Gaza, which has been under siege since 2006.

The sources also said that the question of reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah was a major issue discussed in the meeting. According to the sources, the Saudis stressed the importance of achieving the reconciliation as soon as possible.