First visit to Palestinian land in 45 years seen as demonstration of new confidence after conflict with Israel.
Khaled Meshaal, upon arriving at Rafah crossing in Gaza, called this day 'historic' [Al Jazeera]
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| The leader of Hamas has arrived in the Gaza Strip, ending 45 years of exile from the Palestinian Territories with a visit that underscored the armed group's growing confidence. After passing through the Egyptian border crossing, Meshaal knelt on the ground to offer a prayer of thanks and was then greeted by dozens of officials from an array of competing Palestinian factions lined up to meet him in warm December sun. Khaled Meshaal will spend barely 48 hours in the coastal enclave and attend a mass rally on Saturday that has been advertised as both a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the founding of Hamas and a "victory" celebration after its recent war with Israel. Meshaal, who has not visited the Palestinian Territories since leaving the West Bank at age 11, emerged emboldened from the eight-day conflict which ended in a truce he negotiated under Egypt's auspices. He has since spoken of reaching out to other Palestinian factions. "There is a new mood that allows us to achieve reconciliation," Meshaal said in an interview last Friday from Qatar, where he has set up home since leaving Syria earlier this year. Al Jazeera's Nicole Johnston, reporting from Gaza City, said Hamas had invited Fatah officials to the welcoming ceremony. Meshaal's wife arrived in Gaza late on Thursday afternoon, officials at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt said. Post-conflict trip Meshaal's trip comes after a ceasefire that ended eight days of conflict between Israel and Gaza armed groups. The violence began on November 14, with Israel's targeted killing of Hamas military commander Ahmed Jabari, and left 174 Palestinians dead, including more than 100 civilians, as well as six Israelis. The chief of Islamic Jihad, Ramadan Shallah, had also been expected to attend the anniversary celebrations, but a source in the Palestinian armed group in Gaza said Thursday he would likely be forced to cancel the trip over Israeli objections. "The Egyptians told Ramadan Shallah that they [Israeli leaders] would end the ceasefire if he came to Gaza," the source said on condition of anonymity. "Islamic Jihad had contacts with the Egyptians on this question and Ramadan Shallah will most likely cancel the visit that was planned for Gaza." Hamas marks its official anniversary on December 14, but celebrations are set to begin earlier with a major rally on Saturday, when Meshaal is expected to speak. |