Hamas to world: Cut ties with Israel and force end to blockade
Exiled Hamas leader says continuation of contacts will 'reward Israel for its crimes', says Netanyahu and Barak should be tried.
Tags: Israel news Hamas Gaza flotillaHamas chief Khaled Meshal on Tuesday called on all states to cut diplomatic ties with Israel and urged Moscow and Washington to make it end its blockade of Gaza, after nine people died when Israel raided Gaza-bound aid ships.
Israel seized six ships en route to the Palestinian enclave on Monday and detained or deported hundreds of activists who were on board. The attack sparked international outrage, particularly by Turkey, where some of the fatalities were from.
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Hamas' exiled political chief Khaled Meshal |
| Photo by: AP |
"We call on all Arab and Islamic nations, and all those who have relations with Israel, to cut all their relations and contacts in all shapes and levels with the Zionist entity," said Meshal, speaking in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
"The continuation of contacts and relations with Israel is a reward for their crimes," he said.
Meshal, the exiled leader of the Islamist group, called on U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to force Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza it imposed in 2005 and tightened after Hamas took over the enclave in 2007.
"Take the bold initiative of a historic decision to break the blockade on Gaza and force Israel to do that," Meshaal said.
He also called on Egypt to keep the Rafah border crossing - the only one not under Israeli control - open permanently. Egypt said earlier it would be opened "for an unlimited time" to allow Palestinians and aid to cross the border.
"No blockade after today, the Gaza blockade is not acceptable after today. I say the blockade failed as a political tool in forcing Gaza and Hamas and the resistance to succumb. Its political aims have failed," Meshal said.
The European Union, a major aid donor to the Palestinians, and Russia demanded an inquiry into the Israeli military action against the aid flotilla and an end to the embargo.
Israel says the embargo is a response to Hamas's hostility and that its aim is to deny Hamas the ability to arm and to weaken the movement's popularity among civilians.
Meshal criticized the U.N. Security Council statement on the Israeli action which called for a "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards" and condemned "those acts which resulted in the loss of ... civilians and many wounded".
"We say clearly we cannot allow Israel to escape from punishment. What the Security Council did today, under the shadow of a U.S. veto, pressure and bias, is a betrayal for humanity and not just for the people of Gaza and the supporters," Meshaal said.
"Israel must be punished "... and we call for the trial of [Defense Minister Ehud] Barak, [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and all Zionist leaders as war criminals," he said.
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Let all nations do what Khaled Meshal says now. Let them follow his footsteps. Let Khaled Meshal be their role madel. What is pity situation we are now – the world supports criminals view. It is sad a peace loving nation is isolated totally now. The whole world, its institutions and media are fooled ( like child) by a small group who opened planned their propaganda action and originated from the new fanatic country (the present government made Turkey no more a secular and modern one). Let the world genuinely promote peace between Jews and the Arabs in the Holy Land. Let the world also make a health atmosphere where Israel need not fight daily for its own existence. We Love you Israel as we love our beloved nation India.
The crimes of the Palestinians are legion. Hamas is made up of a bunch of unrepentant fanatics. Meshal is a murderer. Yet Israel's actions serve to give Hamas a voice that seems almost reasonable to the rest of the world. We need a revolution in Israel. What a disaster of leadership.
Sending over 10,000 rockets to terrorize civilians is indeed a crime. When Hamas no longer seeks the destruction of the state of Israel then I might start believing him. It is sad that Israel probably cares more about Gaza's children than any of the Hamas leaders. I would love to see the embargo stop, but not at the risk of a tremedous amount of bloodshed on both sides. Hamas seeks all types of weapons against Israel, because they will never accept Israel's existence.
the people of palestine need to rise up and kick Hamas out of their country. They cause lots of damage and bring violence to israel. Why does the world think that Israel is evil and the poor oh little palestinians are helpless people. Pshhh! please people get a reality check !
I guarantee you 100% that if Meshal released Gilad Shalit, Israel would release the blockade. That is 1.5 million for 1. Do you think Meshal would even think about that. Probably not.
When Khaled Meshaal is respected and listened to in Europe- this is the time to get really worried. What humanity he shows. What a figure of respect. Someone for all the left wing activists armed with a degree of ignorant righteousness and a ton of hypocrisy to rally around "for the good of the Palestinians." What a crazy world - yet hardly surprising when so much Arab money goes into buying up the media to shape the minds of tomorrow.
Meshel,your Hamas has killed all PlO supporters in Gaza,some of the wheelchairs are needed to support the people your Hamas gang has shot .Hamas stands for no opposition ,for ruthless Hamas rule and for poverty and misery in Gaza.Hamas always has guns ,first the PloOthen Israel,then Egypt,then,Jordan etc .You can fool some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time .
It's about time this "heroic" meshal goes enjoy his 72 toothless virgins and dwells in paradise,together with yassin and rattizi(no typo)
Let's not be one sided here. Meshal should also be tried for approving indiscriminate and premeditated killings of inumerable Israeli innocents over the years.
AS I SAID IT WAS WELL ORCHESTRATED AND PREMEDITATED PROVOCATION ORIGINATED WITH THIS MORON... gOOD FOR iSRAEL FOR STANDING UP AND SEEING WHAT IS ALL IS. aLL THESE MOTLEY CREW HAS ONLY ONE IDEA IN MIND AND THAT IS TO CREATE MAYHEM AND UNENDING ACCUSATIONS. tHEY ARE FAILING AND THEY WILL FAIL AS ISRAEL OF TODAY IS NOT DEFENSELESS JEWISH FAMILIES THAT ANTI-SEMITES SO USED TO HARRASS AND ABUSE.. THANK YOU ISRAEL FOR A JOB WELL DONE...
The problem with Hamas won't begin to be solved until Maashal is eliminated. Israel should take him out at the first possible opportunity, then work down the line. Only when the leadership of Hamas is cut off at its head, will things begin to improve.