Hamas Seeks To Expand Training In Iran

Hamas has sought to expand Iranian aid to the Palestinian movement. Palestinian sources said Hamas leaders have been negotiating with Teheran to increase military and financial aid to the insurgency group. They said senior Hamas officials, led by Palestinian Authority Interior Minister Said Siyam, discussed the request during their visit to Teheran last week. ‘Siyam said that without Iranian help, the war with Fatah could continue indefinitely,’ a Palestinian source, who did not want to be further identified, said. ‘Siyam wants to essentially kick the Fatah militia out of Gaza.’ The sources said Siyam, accompanied by the head of the new PA Executive Force Yusef Zahar, has asked Iran to finance training of Hamas operatives. They said Hamas wanted hundreds of fighters to leave the Gaza Strip for Egypt, and from there make their way to Syria. From these countries, the operatives would be flown to Iran for training similar to that received by Hizbullah.