Bulgaria Expels Visiting Hamas Politicians

Bulgaria reportedly expelled a visiting group of three Hamas legislators from Gaza on Friday, after removing them from their hotel room.

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 Saturday, according to the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency.

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.