A Palestinian source in Damascus has denied the military presence of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in Syria, countering Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar’s claims that they operate there. Israeli Defense Minister Katz confirmed airstrikes against Syrian positions, citing security concerns, while also suggesting that Israel aims to exploit Syria’s post-regime vulnerabilities. The new Syrian government has restricted Palestinian faction activities, focusing primarily on Fatah’s role within humanitarian contexts.
A Palestinian source from Damascus, in a statement to the Qatari-owned news outlet The New Arab, asserted that neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Islamic Jihad maintains a military presence in Syria. This claim follows remarks made by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who indicated last week that these groups were operating in Syria to establish an additional front against Israel.
During a meeting in Brussels with top European officials, Sa’ar described the new Syrian government under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa as a “Jihadist Islamist terror group.” The Damascus-based source dismissed these allegations as fabrications by Israel aimed at justifying future interventions in Syria following the Assad regime’s decline.
In response to perceived threats, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reported that the Israeli Air Force initiated strikes against Syrian regime positions. He commented on attempts by the new Syrian government to reinforce areas near Israel’s border, stating that Israel would continue its strategic operations in southern Syria to mitigate Iranian influence and terrorism.
The Palestinian source also highlighted that Israel seeks to exploit Syria’s challenging situation, aiming to dismantle military infrastructure. Moreover, the new government has closed numerous offices affiliated with Palestinian factions, restricting the presence of such organizations primarily to Fatah.
Mu’ayyad Qabalan, an advisor to the Syrian administration, echoed the perspective that Hamas’s presence is unwelcome. He criticized Israel’s claims as misleading, indicating a strategic intent to weaken Syria, which would be beneficial for Israel.
In summary, a Palestinian source disputes Israeli claims of Hamas and Islamic Jihad presence in Syria, arguing these assertions serve to justify Israeli actions against the Syrian government. Israeli officials maintain a proactive stance, conducting airstrikes to counter perceived threats and asserting that their strategy aims to prevent Iranian influence and terrorist activities in the region.
Original Source: www.jpost.com
