Hamas applauds Syrian revolution

The Palestinian armed group has said it respects the political choice and will of the people

Hamas has congratulated the Syrian people after armed opposition forces in the country overthrew the government and ousted former President Bashar Assad over the weekend.

In a statement shared on the Palestinian militant group’s Telegram channel, Hamas called on Syrians to “unite their ranks, further national cohesion and rise above the pains of the past.”

“We congratulate the brotherly Syrian people on their success in achieving their aspirations for freedom and justice,” the militant group wrote, adding that it respects the will, independence, and the political choices of the people of Syria.

In a separate statement, Ziad al-Nakhala, the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad – an ally of Hamas – echoed the sentiment and said his group hopes that Syria will remain a supporter of the Palestinian people and their cause.

Over the weekend, Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) jihadists, along with other anti-government factions, seized control of the Syrian capital, Damascus following a swift advance in several regions. Representatives of the opposition forces have since claimed to have established control over the country.

After negotiating with a number of participants of the conflict, Assad ultimately decided to step down and left the country, calling for a peaceful transfer of power, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

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Both Assad and his family have since been granted asylum and are currently in Moscow, the Kremlin has confirmed, noting that the former Syrian leader was personally invited to the country by Russian President Vladimir Putin.