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Palestinian Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal to visit Gaza | Palestinian Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal to visit Gaza |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The exiled political leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, is due to make his first ever visit to Gaza to mark the organisation's 25th anniversary. | The exiled political leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, is due to make his first ever visit to Gaza to mark the organisation's 25th anniversary. |
Mr Meshaal is to meet members of different Palestinian movements and Gaza residents as well as the families of militants killed by Israel. | Mr Meshaal is to meet members of different Palestinian movements and Gaza residents as well as the families of militants killed by Israel. |
His visit follows a ceasefire that ended days of violence between Hamas-run Gaza and Israel last month. | His visit follows a ceasefire that ended days of violence between Hamas-run Gaza and Israel last month. |
The Islamist militant group has governed Gaza since 2007. | The Islamist militant group has governed Gaza since 2007. |
Hamas is regarded as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the EU and US. | Hamas is regarded as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the EU and US. |
Mr Meshaal is due to enter Gaza from Egypt. Officials at the Rafah border crossing said his wife had arrived late on Thursday. | Mr Meshaal is due to enter Gaza from Egypt. Officials at the Rafah border crossing said his wife had arrived late on Thursday. |
'Made in Gaza' | |
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement that the visit was "a fruit of the victory of the resistance over the occupation". | Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement that the visit was "a fruit of the victory of the resistance over the occupation". |
A huge rally on Saturday is expected to be the centrepiece of his three-day tour. | A huge rally on Saturday is expected to be the centrepiece of his three-day tour. |
Mr Meshaal was born in the West Bank in 1956. He moved to Kuwait after the 1967 Middle East war and later Jordan, where his involvement with Hamas began. | Mr Meshaal was born in the West Bank in 1956. He moved to Kuwait after the 1967 Middle East war and later Jordan, where his involvement with Hamas began. |
Jordan briefly jailed Mr Meshaal before expelling him to Qatar. | Jordan briefly jailed Mr Meshaal before expelling him to Qatar. |
He became Hamas's political leader in exile in 2004 when its founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, was assassinated by Israel. | He became Hamas's political leader in exile in 2004 when its founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, was assassinated by Israel. |
Correspondents say Israel - which along with the US and EU considers Hamas a terrorist organisation - appears to be turning a blind eye to the visit. | Correspondents say Israel - which along with the US and EU considers Hamas a terrorist organisation - appears to be turning a blind eye to the visit. |
Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said that Israel had no say over who entered Gaza from Egypt. | |
"We have no position on different individuals within Hamas," he said, according to AP news agency. "Hamas is Hamas is Hamas." | |
About 170 Palestinians and six Israelis died in last month's eight-day offensive which Israel said it launched to stop rocket fire from the territory. | |
On Thursday, Palestinian workers were setting up a stage for Saturday's anniversary rally that included a replica of a type of rocket Hamas has fired into Israel. "Made in Gaza," was written on it. | On Thursday, Palestinian workers were setting up a stage for Saturday's anniversary rally that included a replica of a type of rocket Hamas has fired into Israel. "Made in Gaza," was written on it. |
Hamas was created in 1987 after the beginning of the first intifada - or Palestinian uprising - against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. | Hamas was created in 1987 after the beginning of the first intifada - or Palestinian uprising - against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. |
Under its charter, Hamas is committed to the destruction of Israel. | Under its charter, Hamas is committed to the destruction of Israel. |
Last week, Israel announced it would move ahead with building thousands of new homes in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. | |
The move came after the UN General Assembly voted to recognise the Palestinians as a non-member observer state. | The move came after the UN General Assembly voted to recognise the Palestinians as a non-member observer state. |