Mashaal vows to continue fighting Israel
Dec 8, 2012 15:05:27 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 8, 2012 15:05:27 GMT -5
Mashaal vows to continue fighting Israel rather than give up ‘any inch’ of Palestine
By AP and Times of Israel staff December 8, 2012, 6:00 pm Updated: December 8, 2012, 6:16 pm 26
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The leader of the Islamic terrorist group Hamas vowed to continue fighting Israel Saturday, as hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Gazans turned out to celebrate the organization’s 25th anniversary.
Khaled Mashaal’s visit to the Palestinian territory — a first in his lifetime of exile — underscores Hamas’ rising clout and regional acceptance since its eight-day conflict with Israel last month.
At the main stage in Gaza City, a roaring crowd greeted Mashaal and Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, who emerged from a door built into a large model of a rocket fired at Israeli cities during the recent fighting.
Hamas’ green dominated the gathering, where some children wore military uniforms and others carried guns. Masked gunmen holding automatic rifles flanked the podium where Mashaal gave a fiery speech.
Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal speaks to Hamas supporters during a visit to the house of Ahmed Jaabari, the leader of the Hamas armed wing who was killed in an Israeli air strike in November, in Gaza City, Friday. (AP Photo/Mohammed Saber)
Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal speaks to Hamas supporters during a visit to the house of Ahmed Jaabari, the leader of the Hamas armed wing who was killed in an Israeli air strike in November, in Gaza City, Friday. (AP Photo/Mohammed Saber)
“We are not giving up any inch of Palestine. It will remain Islamic and Arab for us and nobody else. Jihad and armed resistance is the only way,” Mashaal said, referring to holy war. “We cannot recognize Israel’s legitimacy.”
Mashaal said he would continue to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails — referring to a swap last year where an abducted Israeli soldier was exchanged for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
“From the sea to the river, from north to south, we will not give up any part of Palestine — it is our country, our right and our homeland,” said the Hamas chief. “We are all one,” he added, referring to Palestinians residing in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and inside Israel. “We are all united in the way of resistance.”
The 56-year-old Mashaal, who left the West Bank as a child and now leads Hamas from the Gulf state of Qatar, entered Gaza on Friday via Egypt, for the first time ever and after a long exile from Palestinian territory, to attend the mass rally.
Story continues at link:
www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-gather-in-gaza-for-hamas-anniversary/