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<div class="ViewDetails_Title"><big><b><big>Meshaal: We are ready to
coexist with Jews, but not 'occupiers'</big></b></big></div>
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<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=716621">http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=716621</a></small></small></small></b><br>
Published yesterday (updated) 28/07/2014 13:57</div>
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GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israel resumed its bombardment of the Gaza
Strip for the 20th day on Sunday afternoon, as Hamas leader Meshaal
stressed that the group was ready to "coexist with the Jews" but
would not tolerate "occupiers."<br>
<br>
The Israeli assault on Gaza continued after Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu refused to renew a ceasefire agreed to earlier in the day
after he claimed Palestinian militants had violated earlier truces.<br>
<br>
At least two Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in Israeli
airstrikes and shelling from land and sea on Sunday evening, as the
total Palestinian toll in the deadly assault hit 1,032 with more
than 6,200 injured. Israeli forces have also killed 11 Palestinians
in solidarity protests across the West Bank.<br>
<br>
Of the total, 13 Palestinians were killed Sunday morning by Israeli
forces during the ceasefire, while 117 bodies were recovered on
Saturday as medics had access to large areas that had been
off-limits during an agreed-upon humanitarian ceasefire that lasted
16 hours. <br>
<br>
On Sunday afternoon, after the expiration of that ceasefire, Hamas
announced that all militant groups would be respecting a 24-hour
ceasefire beginning at 2 p.m.<br>
<br>
But as Israeli airstrikes continued and officials announced their
rejection, rocket fire continued from the Gaza Strip, injuring one
Israeli civilian.<br>
<br>
Meanwhile, the Israeli military's death toll in the conflict hit 43
overnight, while three civilians in Israeli have been killed as
well.<br>
<br>
<b> 'I'm ready to coexist with the Jews' </b><br>
<br>
Hamas continued to insist that any lasting ceasefire must be based
on an Israeli lifting of the blockade on Gaza, with leader Khaled
Meshaal warning that Palestinians cannot coexist with their
neighbors while their land is occupied in an interview broadcast on
Sunday.<br>
<br>
On Saturday, Meshaal was interviewed by US broadcaster PBS in the
Qatari capital Doha while in Gaza the party was under assault from
Israeli forces in renewed fighting.<br>
<br>
A full version of the interview will be broadcast late on Monday,
but excerpts were revealed on Sunday on CBS News' "Face the Nation."<br>
<br>
Asked by veteran interviewer Charlie Rose whether he could foresee
living beside Israelis in peace, Meshaal said only a future
Palestinian state could decide whether to recognize Israel.<br>
<br>
"We are not fanatics, we are not fundamentalists. We are not
actually fighting the Jews because they are Jews per se. We do not
fight any other races. We fight the occupiers," he said.<br>
<br>
"I'm ready to coexist with the Jews, with the Christians and the
Arabs and non-Arabs," he said. "However, I do not coexist with the
occupiers."<br>
<br>
Pressed on whether Palestinians could recognize the state of Israel
as a Jewish state, Meshaal reiterated Hamas' position -- the group
does not recognize Israel.<br>
<br>
"When we have a Palestinian state then the Palestinian state will
decide on its policies. You cannot actually ask me about the future.
I answered you," he said.<br>
<br>
"But Palestinian people can have their say when they have their own
state without occupation."<br>
<br>
Hamas declared a 24-hour ceasefire on Sunday, but fighting continued
in Gaza and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his
forces would push on with attempts to destroy the group's tunnel
network.
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