The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas has welcomed the expulsion of a senior Israeli delegation, headed by the deputy director of the African Division at the Israeli occupation foreign ministry, from the auditorium of the African Union (AU) summit in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. 

Hamas spokesperson Jihad Taha hailed Saturday all efforts exerted to block the Israeli occupation from attending the annual summit in a move that "goes in line with the values and principles of the African Union." 

In a press statement, Taha lauded the AU's stance in support of the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people's legitimate rights to end the occupation and establish a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.    

The Hamas spokesperson called on the "brotherly and friendly" African states to embrace such honourable positions and alienate the Israeli occupation and its racist and fascist government from the AU.