BICOM

A Hamas official in Damascus has said that one of its members, Kamel Ranaja, was killed last night. Ranaja, also known as Nizar abu Mujhad, was believed to have been deputy to Hamas military commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh who was killed in Dubai in 2010.

Hamas officials immediately accused Israel of assassinating Ranaja, although Syrian opposition groups have said that the killing was the work of pro-government forces. Relations between Hamas and the Assad regime have sharply deteriorated since government and opposition began fighting over a year ago. Most Hamas leaders have abandoned Damascus for Jordan, Egypt and Qatar over the last year.

A senior delegation of Hamas leaders, including Khaled Meshaal and Mousa abu Marzouk, is expected to travel to Jordan today to attend the funeral of Ranaja. During their visit, which had been planned for early next week, they are expected to meet senior officials and possibly King Abdullah II. Jordan has extended a cautious welcome to Hamas leaders, although remains concerned that a strengthening of Islamist and pro-Palestinian forces could disrupt delicate internal political balances.