°®Âþµº

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas has condemned a Saudi newspaper for describing it as a terror group, calling the label an insult to the Palestinian people.

"This dangerous designation is an affront to the reputation of our people, their history, and their struggle, and an insult to their courageous resistance...defending Palestine, Gaza, and the dignity of the entire nation," Hamas said in a statement posted on Saturday. 

"Terrorist Hamas attends the inauguration of the Iranian president," Al-Riyadh, a Saudi pro-government newspaper, headlined a story on a Hamas delegation visit to Iran on Saturday. 

Israeli army spokesman in Arabic, Maj. Avichay Adraee noticed, and in support of the headline.

Hamas regretted that such language is being used by an Arab media outlet published in the capital of the kingdom, "at a time when the Zionist enemy is pursuing its crimes, aggression, and violations against the Palestinian people, Jerusalem, and al-Aqsa mosque." 

Hamas said such "odd" positions contradict the "known positions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its leadership, and its people who love and support Palestine, its resistance, and its legitimate rights." 

Israeli army spokesman in Arabic, Maj. Avichay Adraee noticed, and tweeted in support of the headline.

Hamas expressed anger in June after Saudi Arabia demanded that Qatar end its support for the Palestinian Islamist movement following the Saudi-led blockade of Doha. 

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Adel Al-Jubeir said on June 6 that Qatar must stop funding "extremist groups", including Hamas and other Muslim Brotherhood affiliates, in order to restore ties with the most powerful GCC states.

Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, "undermines the Palestinian Authority," the Saudi minister added.

Qatar denies providing financial support to Hamas, saying it supports Palestinians, and categorically refuses all allegations it finances terrorist groups. 

Hamas and Saudi Arabia have had a  relationship, but never before has Riyadh suggested the Palestinian group, whose supporters insist is a legitimate resistance fighting the occupation, was an extremist group. During a visit by Donald Trump to Riyadh in late May, the pro-Israel president denounced Hamas as a terror group, and Riyadh did not object.