BEIRUT, Sept 26 (AFP) - A Hamas politburo member denied Sunday that the hardline Palestinian movement`s leadership had decided to strike Israeli interests abroad following the killing of top militant in a Damascus car bombing.
"Until today, the issue of carrying the fight outside Palestine is under study and no decision has been taken in that direction," Mohamad Nazzal told AFP.
Hamas founding member Ezzeddine Sobhi Sheikh Khalil was killed in a car bomb blast in Damascus on Sunday that was blamed on Israel`s Mossad spy agency.
"Following the assassination operation, the Hamas leadership is studying the consequences of this incident, but we cannot say that there is a change in the general policy of keeping the fight inside Palestine," Nazzal said.
Nazzal said he could not confirm the authenticity of a statement published in Gaza in which the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, has vowed to bring the battle "outside Palestine."
"We hold Mossad directly responsible for this very dangerous development that moved the fight outside Palestine and which attacked the sovereignty and stability of a country," he said.
Israeli officials and the army said they had no information about the strike, although a source close to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said: "It is obvious that Damascus is little more than a sanctuary for terrorists."
The United States has also accused Damascus of backing terrorist groups and earlier this year imposed sanctions of Syria, which denies the charge.
Israel has frequently threatened to strike Hamas militants abroad, including Damascus where Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshaal has been based since a failed Mossad attempt on his life in Amman in 1997.
Meshaal, who emerged as overall Hamas leader after Israel assassinated two other top figures earlier this year, is thought to be top of the list of Israel`s targets.