Head of Hamas Political Bureau Khaled Meshaal and a delegation of senior officials arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday evening for a short visit, the first since 2012; media sources reported.

The Hamas delegation will perform umra (lesser pilgrimage) and meet with senior Saudi officials. During the last years of the late King Abdullah’s rule the kingdom denied entry to the Hamas leadership.

Relations between Riyadh and Hamas cooled in recent years, but signs of a breakthrough began emerging after King Salman became monarch earlier this year.

(Middle East Monitor)