GAZA CITY, Palestine
Hamas deputy leader Ismail Haniyeh said Friday that his movement had recently received "positive signs" from the Egyptian and Saudi governments.
"Hamas is adamant about maintaining open relations with Arab countries, as it is keen to secure Arab and Islamic support for the Palestinian resistance and people," Haniyah told The Anadolu Agency.
"Our doors are open; we welcome any positive step aimed at redefining relations with our Egyptian and Saudi brothers," he asserted.
He went on to stress that Hamas' relations with Iran had not been impacted as a result of the group's position vis-à-vis an ongoing Saudi-led air campaign against Yemen's Shiite Houthi group.
"The Hamas position is balanced, emanating from the movement's political principles, which call for unity among the countries of the region; support for internal dialogue; and continued resistance against Israel," he added.
Last month, Hamas announced its support for "political legitimacy" in Yemen, expressing its tacit approval – without clearly saying so – of ongoing Saudi-led airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen.
In March, an Egyptian court annulled an earlier ruling that had labeled Hamas a "terrorist" group based on claims it had carried out attacks in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
The move was hailed by Hamas, which expressed hope it would lead to "more stable relations" with Cairo.
Egypt, a traditional mediator in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, has also played a role in the reconciliation process between Hamas and rival Palestinian faction Fatah since the former took over the Gaza Strip – at the expense of the latter – in 2007.
It also provided a venue for cease-fire talks last summer between Palestinian factions and Israel, which ended a 51-day Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that left some 2,160 Palestinians dead.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia announced the end of a fierce month-long air campaign that had targeted Houthi positions across Yemen.
The following day, however, the Saudi-led air coalition resumed airstrikes, stressing its right to strike Houthi targets "if necessary."
Yemen has remained in turmoil since a popular uprising in 2011 forced Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down one year later.
Last September, the Shiite Houthis overran capital Sanaa, from which the group later extended its control to other parts of the fractious country.
The fall of Sanaa last year sent shockwaves across the Arabian Gulf, some countries of which believe that the Houthis are supported by Shiite Iran.
