Tunisia deliberates over transfer of Hamas leaders from Gaza
Secret talks surrounding a potential transfer of Hamas leaders from Gaza to Tunisia have reportedly taken place, according to the Moroccan government-friendly North Africa Post via i24NEWS on September 18th.
The apparent secret talks have the possibility to raise security concerns in the North African nation if the transfer does happen, considering the fact that the most radical members of the Hamas group would be hosted.
The planned re-settlement operation of Hamas militants bears parallels to 1982, when the Palestinian Liberation Organisation and Yasser Arafat moved to Tunis after being forced out of Lebanon.
The most recent recent visit by Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi to Tunisia is thought to heave been related to the deportation of Hamas hardliners to the capital of Tunis.
Israel’s aggression against Gaza and the West Bank has sparked political and civil discord in Tunisia. Pro-Palestinian activists have been suppressed by the Tunisian regime and met with brutality by security authorities.
What’s more, Tunisian President Kais Saied has embarked on a repressive regime, having been in power since 2021.
Saied blocked a draft legislation which would have banned companies tied to Israel, causing the draft law to stall in 2023.
But the arrival of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which stopped off at Tunisia on its way to Gaza, was met with support for Palestine from Tunisian locals.
A number of suspected attacks on the flotilla have taken place, causing indignation, which was only exacerbated when Tunisian authorities denounced the assault as orchestrated.
The reaction to the flotilla demonstrates the impact that Gaza has in Tunisia’s political discourse. Purported drone attacks on the flotilla, as well as Israel’s recent air strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, poses considerable questions for Tunisia’s leaders regarding the potential hosting of Hamas militants.
North Africa Post via i24NEWS, Maghrebi.org, The New Arab
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