Hamas rules out truce under Gaza blockade

[Mrs. Sharon B. Hodge]

Hamas rules out truce under Gaza blockade
by Jay Deshmukh


TEHRAN (AFP) – Hamas political supremo Khaled Meshaal on Sunday ruled out any "permanent ceasefire" until Israel ends its crippling blockade of the Gaza Strip.

"The resistance is against a permanent ceasefire," he said at a news conference in Tehran, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported.

"While the occupation continues, a permanent ceasefire has no meaning," Meshaal said at the conference, jointly held with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

Israel has enforced a blockade of the enclave ever since the Islamist movement violently seized control in a week of deadly street fighting with its Fatah rivals in mid-2007.

Meshaal, who arrived in Iran earlier on Sunday for his first visit since the war, said the Gaza blockade was a key "priority".

"Until the blockade continues, we believe the aggression (by Israel) continues," he added.

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Hamas-political-supremo-Khaled-Meshaa...
Hamas political supremo Khaled Meshaal, seen here in October 2008, has ruled out any "permanent … (photo)

Meshaal's remarks come as Palestinian officials were gathering in Cairo for talks from Monday aimed at bolstering a ceasefire in Gaza amid Israel's threat to strike at Hamas after Gaza militants fired rockets into Israel.

Egypt has been mediating a truce between Hamas and Israel after they both announced ceasefires on January 18, ending a 22-day war that killed more than 1,330 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.

The fragile ceasefire has been tested by tit-for-tat attacks which flared up after Palestinian militants detonated a roadside bomb at the Gaza border with Israel, killing a soldier.

Palestinian militants have also fired at least seven rockets at Israel.

Mottaki also called for the lifting of the blockade. "The Gaza blockade should be lifted and Gaza port and the crossings should be reopened for reconstruction," he said.

The Iranian foreign minister said it was the duty of other countries to help reconstruct Gaza and "exert efforts to offer help to the needy people through the legal government of Hamas."

Mottaki praised "the resistance of Gazans" which had "put out the fire of the Zionist regime," during the war in the impoverished territory.

Meshaal, who lives in exile in Syria, was to meet top Iranian officials, address students of Tehran University, and attend a session of parliament, IRNA reported.

Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has drawn global outrage for his anti-Israel tirades, has congratulated Hamas on its "victory" in the war with Israel.

Iran is a staunch supporter of Hamas and does not recognise Israel.

In 2006, Tehran pledged millions of dollars in aid to the Hamas government. But the Islamic republic has always insisted its support for Palestinian militant groups does not extend to arming or training fighters.