Meshaal: It's time to turn the negotiation tables on those who seek to enslave us

Khaled Meshaal, head of Hamas’ political bureau, affirmed that his movement never forgets those who supported and stood by it, “but it cannot compromise on its nation’s blood”. He made the remarks in reference to the movement’s position toward the Syrian revolution.

In his speech during a festival to mark the anniversary of the liberation of Jerusalem by the Muslim leader, Salah El-Din El Ayobi, entitled “In the Footsteps of Salah El Din”, Meshaal said: “We can only be with the peoples’ aspirations for freedom, we cannot compromise on the blood of our nation”, adding “The best protection for the resistance is to grant the people their rights.”

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To the Israeli occupation, he declared that Hamas is a resistance movement and will never change even if the whole world stands against it; it has always been a resistance movement, and will continue with the resistance.

Meshaal emphasised the need to prepare for the liberation of Jerusalem. He addressed the leaders of the Arab revolutions saying, “After the Arab Spring, we must begin to prepare for the liberation of Jerusalem and its holy sites; the Palestinian role does not cancel the Arab role.”

The Hamas leader also called for an end to the negotiations with the occupation. He said: “It is time to turn the negotiation tables on those who seek to enslave us.” He further warned that the occupation’s aim is “to create a new reality in Jerusalem as they did in the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.”

During his address, Meshaal urged fellow Palestinian leaders from all parties to end their division and complete the process of reconciliation.