Hamas rejects Jordan settlement projects

Chief of Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh announced on Friday that his movement rejects settlement projects for Palestinians in Jordan, news agencies reported.

Haniyeh and former Hamas chief, Khaled Mashaal, visited Amman to attend the funeral of former Hamas official Ibrahim Ghosheh, who passed away at 85 years old.

As he addressed the people at the funeral, Haniyeh affirmed: “No for settlement projects. No solutions for the Palestinian issue at the expense of Jordan or the expense of Palestine.” He stressed:

Jordan is Jordan and Palestine is Palestine, but feelings, creed and religion are the same.

The top Hamas leader insisted that the only solution for Palestinian refugees is to return to their homes from where they were forcefully evicted in 1948.

Jordan expelled Hamas leadership from Amman in 1999. But Ghosheh, a skilful engineer who played a considerable role in the construction development in Kuwait and Jordan, agreed to give up his role as Hamas spokesperson in return for remaining in Amman.

Haniyeh thanked King Abdullah II, the Jordanian government and the Jordanian people for the king’s approval of their entry to participate in Ghosheh’s funeral.

Read: Hamas thanks Jordan for allowing Haniyeh, Meshaal entry to attend funeral