BICOM

In a further indication of a growing Sunni-Shi’ite regional split, Hamas yesterday called for Hezbollah to pull its forces out of Syria and instead focus its’ attentions on fighting Israel.

Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk released a statement saying, “We call on Hezbollah to take its forces out of Syria and to keep their weapons directed against the Zionist enemy.” Hamas and Hezbollah have both long carried out attacks against Israel and are ideologically committed to Israel’s destruction. However, Hamas has sided with the Sunni-dominated opposition forces in Syria seeking to overthrow President Assad. Meanwhile, during the past few weeks, thousands of Shi’ite Hezbollah fighters have fought alongside Assad’s forces and appear committed to continuing their armed support.

The Hamas statement appeared to fall into line with Egypt’s position on Syria after Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi announced over the weekend that he had cut off all relations with Assad and called for Hezbollah to leave Syria. However, a high-level Hamas delegation including chief in exile Khaled Mashaal and leader of Hamas in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh were reportedly facing protests during a visit to Cairo. According to Haaretz, protestors accuse Hamas of interfering in Egyptian internal affairs, in particular security matters in the increasingly lawless Sinai Peninsula where Egypt’s security forces have been attacked.

Meanwhile, Mashaal and Haniyeh are set to make a brief visit to Turkey’s capital Ankara today. According to Turkish daily Hurriyet, they will meet Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other senior Turkish officials. Erdogan recently pledged to visit the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in a move which would be bound to annoy both Israel and the Palestinian Authority which does not recognise Hamas’ authority. Turkey and Israel have recently taken tentative steps to repairing relations which broke down in 2010.