Hamas: Palestine was always in mind and heart of Morsi

GAZA CITY, Palestine

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday said that Palestine was always "in the mind and heart" of Egypt’s first democratically-elected President Mohamed Morsi.

Morsi died on Monday after falling unconscious inside his soundproof glass cage during his trial on "espionage" charges. Activists and his family have long maintained that he was not receiving treatment for a host of health problems including diabetes.

Speaking at a program in Gaza, Haniyeh said: "Palestine was in Morsi's mind and heart even before he became president."

Haniyeh recalled that Morsi had defended Gaza during Israel's attack in 2012 and closely followed the developments.

He wished God's mercy to Morsi and offered condolences to his family and Egyptian people.

Earlier, Haniyeh said that he had called and expressed his condolences to Morsi's wife.

Morsi, a leading member of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, won Egypt's first free presidential election in 2012.

After only a year in office, however, he was ousted and imprisoned in a military coup led by then-Defense Minister and current President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.

At the time of his death, Morsi faced a host of legal charges, which he, along with numerous human rights groups and independent observers, said were politically motivated.