Amos Gilad returns from Cairo (Archive) Photo: AFP
Mashaal: No truce without lifting of siege
Hamas leader tells rally of supporters in Damascus that Israel cannot dictate terms for ceasefire after losing war in Gaza. 'For first time Palestinians have won a direct war with the enemy,' he says
While Cairo continues efforts to consolidate a ceasefire in Gaza, Hamas' politburo chief reiterated warnings that his organization would not accept an agreement that did not lift the blockade on the Strip and initiate the opening of all border crossings.
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Senior Hamas leader: We won / Reuters
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Khaled Mashaal spoke before thousands of supporters at a Damascus rally. He repeated claims that the Palestinians had won the war in Gaza.
"It is impudence to try to reverse the results of the war, and to try to dictate the terms for negotiations on the ceasefire, as if the loser won and the winner lost," the exiled leader declared.
"If we had lost," he wondered, "would these thousands have arrived to celebrate? Who would celebrate a loss? It is a victory for the entire nation. It's the first time the Palestinians have won a direct war with the enemy."
He thanked Syria, Iran, Qatar, Sudan, and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at which point the rally exploded in rowdy applause.
Mashaal also thanked Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and said, "We thank – and no one can prevent us from doing so – all those who helped us, and we say to those who didn't help us – God will settle accounts with them."
Meanwhile Amos Gilad, the head of the Defense Ministry's Diplomatic-Security Bureau, returned from Egypt late Thursday after receiving updates on Hamas' position. The cabinet is set to discuss his conclusions at an as yet unscheduled time.
On Thursday Hamas' spokesman in Gaza, Ayman Taha, said after returning from talks in Cairo that Israel was no longer demanding the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for the opening of all border crossings. Israeli officials have not commented on the matter.
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