GAZA CITY A senior Hamas official in Gaza says the Islamic militant group’s leader is poised to pay his first visit ever to the coastal strip.
Khaled Mashaal is set to visit Gaza next week to mark the movement’s 25th anniversary and congratulate its leaders and militants for battling Israel during a recent 8-day offensive.
Mashaal was previously prevented from crossing into Gaza by longtime Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak. Hamas says it is coordinating the visit with Egypt’s new Muslim Brotherhood leaders.
The official, who spoke anonymously Saturday, citing security concerns, called the visit “historic.”
Hamas violently overtook Gaza from forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party in 2007. It has yet to reconcile with Fatah, which rules the West Bank.
Until recently, Mashaal had been based in Syria.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
ACT NOW |
MONTHLY | Rs 100 | |
YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |