Report: Jordan takes in families of Hamas leaders from Damascus

Jordan has taken in families of Hamas leaders from Damascus, including the family of the Palestinian organization's politburo chief Khaled Mashaal, the London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat reported Sunday, quoting a source close to the terror group.

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According to the source, Jordan took the families in under the condition that the Hamas members would not engage in political activity in the country. He added that relations between Hamas and Jordan have been normalized following meetings held in the country between government officials and group leaders.

"Jordan's agreements with Israel do not allow it to be entirely open to Hamas, and the Hashemite Kingdom will not let the movement reopen offices there," the source added.

The source said Hamas leaders would leave Syria only if they feel threatened by the ongoing violence in the Arab country. He estimated that Mashaal and other Hamas leaders with a Qatari passport would move to the Gulf state should the security situation in Syria deteriorate.

Some senior Hamas members have already left Damascus.

Meanwhile, Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh is expected to begin an official visit to Turkey on Sunday. He is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul.

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