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Palestinian Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal visits Gaza Palestinian Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal visits Gaza
(about 3 hours later)
The political leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, has called his first visit to the Gaza Strip his "third birth".The political leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, has called his first visit to the Gaza Strip his "third birth".
He said his previous two "births" were the day he survived an assassination attempt by Israeli agents in Jordan in 1997, and his actual birth in 1956.He said his previous two "births" were the day he survived an assassination attempt by Israeli agents in Jordan in 1997, and his actual birth in 1956.
Mr Meshaal had not set foot in the Palestinian territories for decades.Mr Meshaal had not set foot in the Palestinian territories for decades.
His visit follows a ceasefire that ended days of violence between Israel and Hamas. The Islamist militant group has governed Gaza since 2007.His visit follows a ceasefire that ended days of violence between Israel and Hamas. The Islamist militant group has governed Gaza since 2007.
Mr Meshaal entered Gaza from Egypt at the Rafah border crossing, kissing the ground in celebration. Officials there said his wife had arrived late on Thursday. Mr Meshaal entered Gaza from Egypt at the Rafah border crossing, touching his head to the ground in celebration. Officials there said his wife had arrived late on Thursday.
In a statement to the media, he said: "I consider this moment my third birth, and I pray to God that my fourth birth will be the moment when all of Palestine is liberated."In a statement to the media, he said: "I consider this moment my third birth, and I pray to God that my fourth birth will be the moment when all of Palestine is liberated."
"Gaza is always in my heart," he said."Gaza is always in my heart," he said.
Rocket replica Replica rocket
Posters of Khaled Meshaal can be seen all over the Gaza Strip, but until today he had never seen it himself. We stood on a street corner with a welcoming committee waving green flags as the Hamas leader drove by in a convoy. Armed men in balaclavas carrying guns and rockets kept the crowds back.
This is an intensely important personal trip for Mr Meshaal but it is also politically significant. It is often suggested that the external leadership of Hamas is sidelined by the officials who govern its stronghold in Gaza. By coming here just after negotiating last month's ceasefire with Israel through Egyptian mediators, Mr Meshaal is taking his share in what he describes as the "victory" over Israel.
It is also a chance to complete the secretive internal Hamas leadership process and plot strategy going forwards. At a mass rally on Saturday, Mr Meshaal is expected to refer to the need for reconciliation with his political rivals in the Fatah faction headed by President Mahmoud Abbas. Finally he's expected to lay out plans concerning Israel.
Mr Meshaal is expected to visit the home of late Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, as well as that of Ahmed Jabari, the military commander killed in an Israeli strike last month.Mr Meshaal is expected to visit the home of late Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, as well as that of Ahmed Jabari, the military commander killed in an Israeli strike last month.
Just after arriving in Gaza, Mr Meshaal inspected the charred remains of the car in which Jabari was killed, which had been brought to Rafah for the occasion.
Jabari's death marked the start of an eight-day Israeli offensive which Israel said was aimed at halting militant rocket attacks. Some 170 Palestinians and six Israelis were killed.Jabari's death marked the start of an eight-day Israeli offensive which Israel said was aimed at halting militant rocket attacks. Some 170 Palestinians and six Israelis were killed.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement that Mr Meshaal's visit was "a fruit of the victory of the resistance over the occupation".Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement that Mr Meshaal's visit was "a fruit of the victory of the resistance over the occupation".
The BBC's Yolande Knell in Gaza says that Mr Meshaal's visit appears as a bold move, given that he is due to visit the houses of Hamas leaders killed by Israel in the past.The BBC's Yolande Knell in Gaza says that Mr Meshaal's visit appears as a bold move, given that he is due to visit the houses of Hamas leaders killed by Israel in the past.
In the past, Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak never allowed him to use the Rafah border crossing to come here, and it was seen as too risky in terms of his personal security.
An Israeli official told the BBC that no guarantees for Mr Meshaal's safety in Gaza had been requested and none had been given.An Israeli official told the BBC that no guarantees for Mr Meshaal's safety in Gaza had been requested and none had been given.
"Hamas is Hamas, it doesn't matter who heads it, Hamas is still a terror organisation," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor. "Hamas is Hamas, it doesn't matter who heads it," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor. "It's position is known, violence as the only tool to promote its racist and extremist ideology."
"It's position is known, violence as the only tool to promote its racist and extremist ideology."
Israel, the US and the EU consider Hamas a terrorist organisation.Israel, the US and the EU consider Hamas a terrorist organisation.
Leader in exile
For the centrepiece of his three-day tour, Mr Meshaal is scheduled to address the rally in Gaza City, where a stage has been set up with a replica of a type of rocket Hamas has fired into Israel.For the centrepiece of his three-day tour, Mr Meshaal is scheduled to address the rally in Gaza City, where a stage has been set up with a replica of a type of rocket Hamas has fired into Israel.
He is also expected to discuss reconciliation moves with the Fatah movement, which Hamas removed from Gaza by force in 2007 after winning elections there. Fatah now rules parts of the West Bank.He is also expected to discuss reconciliation moves with the Fatah movement, which Hamas removed from Gaza by force in 2007 after winning elections there. Fatah now rules parts of the West Bank.
In 2011, Mr Meshaal and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas - the Fatah leader - endorsed an Egyptian plan to reconcile the rival factions.In 2011, Mr Meshaal and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas - the Fatah leader - endorsed an Egyptian plan to reconcile the rival factions.
Although attempts to forge a Palestinian government of national unity have since stalled, Mr Meshaal told Reuters news agency ahead of his Gaza visit that "there is a new mood that allows us to achieve reconciliation".Although attempts to forge a Palestinian government of national unity have since stalled, Mr Meshaal told Reuters news agency ahead of his Gaza visit that "there is a new mood that allows us to achieve reconciliation".
Mr Meshaal was quick to praise Mr Abbas's recent success in upgrading Palestinian status at the United Nations to that of a non-member "observer state".Mr Meshaal was quick to praise Mr Abbas's recent success in upgrading Palestinian status at the United Nations to that of a non-member "observer state".
Leader in exile Barring a brief visit to the West Bank in 1975, he had not visited the Palestinian territories since his family left in 1967.
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.
He survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Jordan in 1997 only after the King Hussein demanded an antidote to poison used by Israeli agents.He survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Jordan in 1997 only after the King Hussein demanded an antidote to poison used by Israeli agents.
He was briefly jailed in Jordan, before being expelled and travelling to Qatar. Mr Meshaal became Hamas's political leader in exile in 2004 when Sheikh Yassin was assassinated by Israel.
He became Hamas's political leader in exile in 2004 when Sheikh Yassin was assassinated by Israel. He ran operations from Damascus until February this year, when the unrest there prompted another move. He now bases himself in Qatar and Egypt.
Mr Meshaal ran operations from Damascus until February this year, when the unrest there prompted another move. He now bases himself in Qatar and Egypt.
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. But the group has also offered a 10-year truce in return for a complete Israeli withdrawal from territories it occupied in 1967.Under its charter, Hamas is committed to the destruction of Israel. But the group has also offered a 10-year truce in return for a complete Israeli withdrawal from territories it occupied in 1967.