Bulgaria’s decision to order visiting Hamas members of parliament (MPs) to leave the country didn't draw much media attention, despite the incident’s far-reaching implications for Hamas’ relations with the West, especially as the Palestinian movement has become more open to the Western world in recent years.
Hamas didn't call attention to this decision, although some legal and diplomatic sources say that Bulgaria's decision constituted a major breach of political protocol. Security men stormed the residences of the MPs, who enjoy political immunity, and escorted them to the airport to be deported immediately.