Meshaal Says 'Resistance' Depends on Situation
Hamas chief-in-exile Khaled Meshaal, on the third day of a trip to Gaza, told students that different situations called for different measures -- from rockets to a truce.
He also renewed his call for efforts to implement a stalled Palestinian reconciliation deal between his Hamas faction and bitter rival movement Fatah, which is led by president Mahmoud Abbas.
Speaking at the Islamic University in Gaza City, Meshaal appeared to back the continuation of a truce agreed between Israel and the Hamas movement last month, which ended an eight-day conflict in and around Gaza.
"Resistance is the basis, but sometimes we agree to a truce, sometimes we escalate in various manners, sometimes we fire rockets, sometimes we don't," he said in a speech.
He praised the efforts of Gaza's militant groups, saying they had surprised Israel's leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
"Oh, young men and young women, we surprised the enemy, neither Netanyahu, nor Lieberman, nor Barak believed that the population of Gaza, this small but wonderful piece of land, would dare to bomb Tel Aviv," Meshaal said.
He reiterated a call for Palestinian unity he made at a Saturday rally celebrating the 25th anniversary of the founding of Hamas which rules the Gaza Strip.
"We want national unity in the armed resistance and popular resistance. I urge you towards reconciliation and national unity of the Palestinian ranks," he said.
"Palestine is too big for a single movement," he added. "Palestine is for all of us, we are partners in this nation. Hamas cannot do without Fatah or Fatah without Hamas, or any movement."
Meshaal is on his first ever visit to the Gaza Strip for a trip timed to coincide with the Hamas anniversary, which also follows a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that ended November 14-21 fighting in and around Gaza.
The conflict left 174 Palestinians dead -- more than 100 of them civilians -- as well as six Israelis, four civilians and two soldiers.
Source: Agence France Presse
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