GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A delegation from Hamas arrived in Bulgaria on Wednesday to meet with political officials from the European country, a statement from the Islamist group said.

Hamas officials Ismail al-Ashqar, Salah al-Bardawil and Mushir al-Masri were part of the delegation, the first of its kind to visit a country in the European Union.

The delegation will meet with leaders from Bulgarian political parties and other community figures, Hamas said.