Hamas slams Saudi daily over 'terror' label

By Nour Abu Aisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Palestinian resistance group Hamas has denounced a Saudi newspaper for describing the group as a "terrorist" organization.

The Saudi Al-Riyadh daily published a news report on Friday in which it described Hamas as a "terrorist" organization.

"This description tarnishes [the image] of the heroic resistance, which represents the spearhead in defending our cause," Hamas said in a statement on Saturday.

"[It] only serves the enemies of Palestine, which is the central cause of the Arab and Islamic nation," it added.

The Palestinian group went on to call on the Saudi daily to reverse its stance "which runs counter to the stances of Saudi Arabia, which has always stood by the Palestinian people and their resistance".

Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, has been caught in the crisis between Qatar and four Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, who accuse Doha of supporting terrorism.

The four states – Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain – have imposed a sea, land and air blockade on Qatar and presented a list of demands for Doha, including the closure of Al Jazeera television, or face further sanctions.

Qatar, for its part, denies the accusations and contends that the blockade is in violation of international law.