Hamas calls on Iran to increase its arms, aid

Hamas called on Tehran on Saturday to increase their aid to the group, citing its need for more weapons and funds to fight Israel, according to a report by Iran's Fars news agency.

In an interview with the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV channel, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Al-Zahar also called on Hezbollah to increase its cooperation with Hamas and to transfer Palestinians from areas under its control to the West Bank and Gaza.

“The Hamas movement will always and in every place stand on the side of resistance groups that are pursuing the Palestinian objective(s),” Al-Zahar said, according to Fars.

About two weeks ago, a letter purported to be from Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas's armed wing, appealed to Hezbollah to unite with Hamas in battling Israel.

The letter, posted on the website of Al-Manar TV, suggested Hamas and Hezbollah were patching up a rift over the Syrian war.

Hamas has been hostile toward Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has been fighting against the rebels trying to topple him.

"The true enemy of the nation is the Zionist enemy and all rifles must be directed against it," said the letter, which carried Deif's signature. "All forces of resistance must direct their coming battle as one."

Hamas, in political and financial isolation, has been anxious to revitalize old alliances and restore its battered funding. In December, it said it had restored its ties with Iran, which had been angered by Hamas' stance against Assad.

Tehran has long been a major supplier of military and financial aid to the group.

Last month, the head of the Iranian Parliament's Palestine committee said Iran is willing to arm Palestinians in the West Bank, in addition to Hamas elements in the Gaza Strip.

Nasser Al Sudani told alresalah.net – a known Hamas mouthpiece - that even during the recent chill in relations between Tehran and Hamas over the latter's support of the Syrian opposition Iran had not ceased its military aid to Gaza. Now, the Islamic Republic intends to bolster those relations with monetary aid as well, says Al Sudani, and a visit by Hamas political chief Khaled Meshal to Tehran in the near future will be aimed at shoring up relations as well.

Haaretz