Riyadh – A Saudi court has sentenced 69 members of the Hamas terrorist group to life in prison. They include a former representative of Hamas in Saudi Arabia, Mohammed al-Khudairi and his son Hani. Hamas has reacted sharply to the ruling, calling the Saudi court’s ruling ‘unfortunate and unjust.’ Some analysts have called the Saudi decision a result of growing ties between Hamas and Iran.
A Saudi criminal court has sentenced 69 Hamas members to between three and 21 years in prison. Hamas said it included Mohammed al-Khudairi and his son Hani and Jamal al-Dahudi, Sharif Nasrallah, Ali al-Shewki and Ayman al-Akkad. The convicted members include Palestinians as well as citizens of Jordan. In a 2018 operation by Saudi Arabia, a large number of Hamas members were arrested.
After that, the hearing of this case was started from 2019. Relations between Saudi Arabia and Hamas are said to have deteriorated further since the move. Hamas has been working to improve ties with Saudi Arabia since Israel launched an operation in Gaza a few months ago. Last month, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal also gave an interview to a Saudi news channel. Last week, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said he expected Saudi Arabia to make the right decision regarding the members of Hamas.
However, the Saudi court’s decision shows that Hamas’ expectations have been dashed. Saudi Arabia has not officially commented on the matter. Hamas, however, has expressed displeasure with the decision. Hamas has fired a salvo of criticism, ‘It is shocking that so many Palestinians and Jordanians living in Saudi Arabia have been sentenced. Most have been sentenced to harsh and unjust punishment, and we condemn it. They did their duty to support their people. In doing so, they did nothing against the Saudi government or the people.’
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in Palestine has also protested the Saudi decision. The Houthi rebels in Yemen also criticised the Saudi decision. They claimed that the action was taken against Hamas because it was fighting against Israeli aggression. The Houthi rebels have demanded that Saudi Arabia release members of Hamas in exchange for the release of Saudi military officials.
A few days ago, the new President of Iran, Ibrahim Al Raisi, was sworn in. A delegation including Hamas leader Haniya attended his swearing-in ceremony. Some analysts say the Saudi regime has taken serious cognisance of the matter and that the sentencing of Hamas members may be part of it.
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