February 17, 2013

(JTA) — Bulgaria reportedly expelled a visiting group of Hamas lawmakers from the Gaza Strip.

Bulgarian officials removed the three officials from their hotel room on Feb. 15.

The lawmakers blamed their expulsion on Israel.

“We entered the country with an official visa, so we should have left willingly, rather than being expelled. The delegates represent the Palestinian people, not Hamas, though they are affiliated to Hamas,” Hamas leader Salah al-Bardawil told a news conference on Saturday, according to the Maan Palestinian news service.

Bulgaria’s National Security Service said they expelled the Hamas delegates because “we obtained information that their presence was creating a serious threat to national security,” the security service said in a statement.
 
 

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