Jordan Times
Monday, November 22, 1999
Hamas leaders released, flown to Qatar
Tareq Ayyoub
AMMAN — Four leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, were released on Sunday and flown to Qatar after the case against them was dropped, Prime Minister Abdur-Ra'uf S. Rawabdeh said.
Speaking to reporters following a Parliament session, Rawabdeh said Hamas leaders were allowed to leave the country for the Qatari capital, Doha, after “consultations” between Jordan and the Gulf emirate.
His Majesty King Abdullah has consulted the Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Ben Khalifa Al Thani, who agreed to “host” the Hamas leaders, said Rawabdeh, refusing to reveal more details about Qatar's mediation efforts that ended the three-month-old dispute with Hamas activists following the crackdown on the group on August 30.
The four leaders are Hamas politburo chief Khaled Misha'al, the movement's spokesman in Jordan Ibrahim Ghosheh, Izzat Resheq and Sami Khater.
The decision to allow Hamas leaders to leave the Kingdom followed the failure of mediation efforts by the Muslim Brotherhood movement.
Hamas repeatedly refused government conditions, for either voluntarily leaving Jordan or abandoning their links with the Palestinian group.
Interviewed by the Doha-based Al Jazeerah TV Channel upon arrival, Khaled Misha'al described his departure as “compulsory deportation.”
Misha'al said that prior to their departure, police escorted them from Jweidah prison to a Qatari plane that was waiting at Marka Airport.
He said that an official from the Royal Court informed them that they will leave the country on the plane with the Qatari Minister of State Ahmad Ben Abdullah, who arrived in Amman earlier Sunday to accompany them.
Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Ben Jassem told Al Jazeerah that talks between Jordan and his country to resolve Hamas issue started 50 days ago.
Jassem said that Qatari emir requested the release of Hamas detainees, “which was accepted by His Majesty King Abdullah.” The minister said that his country will not allow Hamas leaders to perform any activity on Qatari soil but added that they will be free to leave Qatar any time they like.
Rawabdeh said that the remaining detainees of Hamas activists will be released but declined to give a date, but a relative of one of those detained told the Jordan Times that their release started late Sunday.
The premier added that Mohammad Nazzal, who still at large, will be dealt with once he is apprehended by police.
Asked if the government will allow Hamas leaders to return to Jordan from Qatar, the premier said that it was “too early to talk about this matter” but the issue was still be “open for dialogue.”
But he stressed that those who were allowed to leave Jordan are still Jordanian citizens and bear its nationality.
A government statement issued Sunday indicated that Jordan has announced a total ban on future activities of the Hamas in the Kingdom and warned of “firm action” against any attempt to revive the group's activities.
The government statement said the decision to free Hamas officials was based on Jordan's tradition of tolerance.
“Acting upon instructions from His Majesty the King, and in line with the Hashemite tradition of tolerance, the government decided to close the file on Hamas,” the statement said.
“And following consultations between King Abdullah and Sheikh Hamad Ben Khalifa Al Thani, some (Hamas) detainees left this evening Amman on a plane for Qatar,” the statement said.
“The government is aware of Hamas' right to carry out (political) activities in any way it deems appropriate on Palestinian soil but rejects its presence on Jordanian soil and will deal firmly with any attempt to use Jordanian territory illegally,” the statement warned.
“In order to close the file on Hamas it has been decided also to release all the other detainees so that they can resume a normal activity,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Hamas politburo member Musa Abu Marzouk described the Jordanian decision to “deport” Hamas leaders as a “surprise.”
“Our brothers were deported arbitrarily. They were forced to board the plane against their well,” he told Al Jazeerah.
Saleh Armouti, who headed a 60-man committee to defend Hamas detainees, described the government measure as unconstitutional.
“The measure is unconstitutional and a violation of human rights.”
He said he did not have a chance to consult with his clients before their hasty deportation.
“In the very near future I will consult with Mishaal and Ghosheh and then I will see if I should appeal the decision or not,” he said.
The influential Muslim Brotherhood meanwhile said it will issue an official statement on Monday.
“It is necessary to review all the information, the reasons behind the deportation, the Qatari mediation and Hamas' acceptance of this mediation before we can speak,” Brotherhood spiritual guide Abdul Majid Thneibat said.
“We expect to issue an official statement tomorrow,” he said.