Mashaal
Photo: AP
Mashaal: Shalit being treated with kid gloves
In interview to Italian magazine Panorama, Hamas' political leader says his group will agree to ceasefire if Israel withdraws from territories, acknowledges Palestinians' right of return
"If Israel
withdraws from the territories, acknowledges Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital and recognizes our people's right of return, we will agree to a ceasefire of at least 10 years," Hamas' political leader Khaled Mashaal in an interview to Italian magazine Panorama, published Friday.
In the interview, Mashaal leveled criticism as both Israel and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "Israel depends on us for its political survival. The problem is that it currently receives help from some of our brothers, who support it with their silence," he stated.
The Hamas leader also stressed that kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was "alive, well and being treated with kid gloves."
About two weeks, after Israel stepped up its response to the rocket fire from Gaza, Mashaal threatened that Shalit "will not see the light of day" until all of Hamas' prisoners are released.
Hamas and Fatah representatives convened with Egyptian officials in Cairo last weekend, in an attempt to resolve the crisis in the Rafah area, where the border with the Gaza Strip has been breached.
However, no understandings have been reached in the talks, and President Abbas continued to maintain his stance that he will hold no negotiations with Hamas until the latter relinquished its control of Gaza.
