Meshaal visits Arafat’s sister during Gaza trip

Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal, who is currently visiting Gaza, concluded his meeting with Palestinian factions on Sunday evening. Walid al-Awad of the People’s Party described the meeting in a statement as “positive” and “reconciliatory.”  Meshaal assured the convening factions of Hamas’ commitment to the reconciliation agreements already signed, He rejected “political division” and announced himself in favour of “one authority, one government and one parliament,” urging a “positive” atmosphere be maintained to facilitate its creation. This, Meshaal said, would be the Palestinian people’s “third achievement,” following the Gaza conflict with Israel and winning the status of a United Nations non-member observer state. Hamas leaders were joined by the head of the dismissed Gaza government Ismail Haniyeh in a visit to the home of Hajja Khadija Arafat, the late Palestinian president’s sister. Hamas member Izzat al-Rishq described the visit as “beautiful” and “touching.”