Hamas chief leaves Gaza after first historic visit

Khaled Meshaal (centre) is greeted by Gaza's Greek Orthodox Archbishop Alexios (left) Exiled Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal left the Gaza Strip on Monday after a historic and jubilant first visit to the tiny Palestinian enclave that enraged Israelis. "Abu al-Walid (Meshaal) left the Gaza Strip through the Rafah terminal this afternoon after his historic visit," interior ministry spokesman Islam Shahwan said, referring to the Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt.
He arrived in Gaza on Friday to join celebrations marking 25 years since the founding of his Islamist movement, kissing the ground as he crossed into the tiny coastal strip for a four-day visit.
During the visit, he vowed never to give up even "an inch" of Palestinian territory or to recognise Israel and called for reconciliation between Hamas and the rival Fatah movement which dominates the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.
His speech drew huge crowd of celebrating Hamas supporters.
Spokesperson for Hamas, Salah al-Bardawel, said that his movement would allow Fatah to also celebrate their anniversary in Gaza, if it did not violate security, to avoid any potential confrontation.
Fatah previously organised a celebration in Gaza in 2007, where it witnessed bloody clashes.
A leading member in Fatah Yehia Rabah also expressed their readiness to resume the reconciliation talks with Hamas, blaming Egypt’s current crisis for delaying such a step.
He added that the Egyptian leadership insists on achieving the national Palestinian reconciliation as a necessity for achieving the Palestinian objectives, adding that they will meet in Cairo to achieve this goal.
Rabah said that leaders of Fatah and Hamas met on Sunday and agreed to call for a meeting for the Palestinian Liberation Organisation to discuss reconciliation.