2010-06-11 11:20

KHARTOUM - Hamas on Thursday rejected what it termed as "attempts by some regional and international parties" to loosen the Israeli siege over Gaza, demanding full cancellation of the blockade.

"There are attempts by some regional and international parties to deal with the issue of the siege over Gaza on the basis of lessening the siege," Khaled Mashaal, chairman of Hamas political bureau, told reporters after meeting Sudanese Vice-President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha Thursday.

"This is fully rejected. What we demand is the full breaking of the siege. Rafah crossing must be fully opened for the movement of people and goods. Crossings between the strip and the Zionist entity must also be opened," he added.

Mashaal further reiterated Hamas' desire to reconcile with Fatah, saying that "we are keen on the reconciliation and we are the ones knocking the door."

"We want a real reconciliation that achieves the national interest, preserves the rights of the Palestinians and achieves a partnership in the political and security decision and in the democratic process," he added.

He further noted that there were three reasons hampering the efforts of reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, saying "there is the American intervention, besides that the priority for the US and some parties is not the reconciliation but the resumption of the indirect negotiations, and then the other Palestinian party in the reconciliation wants a reconciliation that suits its interests instead of a real reconciliation."

Meanwhile, Mashaal praised the Sudanese efforts aiming at settling the differences between Fatah and Hamas, and pledged that Hamas would be positive towards the "Sudanese efforts."

"Sudan has exerted considerable efforts and we welcome the efforts. We will be positive in dealing with the Sudanese move," he said.

A delegation of Hamas, headed by Khaled Mashaal, on Wednesday started a three-day visit to Sudan. The delegation met a number of Sudanese officials, including the Sudanese President Omar al- Bashir.