World Press on Syrian Civil War (April 7, 2013)

The Times published an article entitled 'Assad suffers new blow as Hamas switches sides to aid rebels.' According to the article, Hamas is now supporting the Syrian rebels and not the al-Assad regime.

"The military wing of Hamas, a former ally of President Assad, is training the rebel Free Syrian Army in eastern Damascus. Diplomatic sources said that members of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades were training FSA units in the rebel-held neighbourhoods of Yalda, Jaramana and Babbila," the article reads.

"The development appears to confirm that Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that runs the Gaza Strip, has made a final break with its former Syrian host and fully embraced the patronage of Qatar, the small but influential Gulf state that is a major financial and logistical backer of some rebel factions."

According to sources the newspaper cites, the Hamas' decision to support the opposition was probably made under the pressure of Qatar. Qatar is now the main sponsor of Hamas as the Assad regime cannot not finance the movement and Iran is lacking funds, the newspaper writes.