Top Hamas Officials Meet With Lebanese Premier

Gaza, 3 Jumadil Awal 1437/11 February 2016 (MINA) – A high-level Hamas delegation led by Mousa Abu Marzouk met on Wednesday with Lebanese premier Tammam Salam and discussed with him the latest developments of the Palestinian cause and the living conditions of the refugees in Lebanon.

The meeting was attended by a former Lebanese minister Hasan Manemneh, head of the Lebanese Palestinian dialog committee, and senior Hamas officials, including its representative in Lebanon Ali Baraka.

Head of the delegation Abu Marzouk briefed Salam on the latest developments in the Palestinian arena, especially regarding the talks between Hamas and Fatah in the Qatari capital Doha and the blockade imposed on Gaza.

Abu Marzouk also talked about the recent UNRWA service and relief cuts, which affected the lives of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, in addition to the issue of the stricken Nahr al-Bared refugee camp.

The Hamas official urged the Lebanese government to intervene and pressure the donor countries and the UN to provide the funds necessary for supporting the UNRWA’s budget in order to ensure continuity of its humanitarian services.

For his part, premier Salam congratulated Hamas and Fatah on the renewed talks between them in Doha and called for necessarily restoring the Palestinian unity in order to face the challenges to the Palestinian cause.

The premier also expressed his rejection of the UNRWA cuts and pledged to make diplomatic efforts to support its budget. (T/P011/R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)