Hamas Appreciates Obama's Change In Tone
But he said words must be followed by "action on the ground," and that Mr. Obama remains "too sympathetic" toward Israel, despite the president's pledge to work hard for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
"We see a change in Washington's stance over the Middle East region and the Islamic world…but we are looking for a change on the ground. Obama's stance is still under test," Mashaal, a Hamas leader in exile, said.
"Obama spoke widely about the suffering of Jews and their Holocaust in Europe but ignored the talk about our suffering and Israel's Holocaust that has been going on for decades against our people," he added.
"Mr. Obama, our Palestinian people are still under all forms of subjugation, intimidation and forced deportations. We call for credible acts which begin with lifting the siege on Gaza Strip and the start of rebuilding it. Gaza has been suffering from closure of crossing points while the world is just watching," Mashaal said.
He vowed his group would continue to fight until Palestinians restore their rights and total land, with Jerusalem as its capital.
"We renew our commitment to the resistance as a strategic option for the liberation of the nation and the restoration of the national legitimate rights," he said.
"The Palestinians had the right to resist Israeli occupation as the Euro pan peoples did against the Nazis and the Americans against the British occupation in the past," Hamas leader argued.
But he said the Islamic movement was "open" to efforts for dialogue and peace, in particular if there was a U.S. desire.
"We're ready to cooperate with any international efforts if there is American willingness to end the (Israeli) occupation," he said, adding "the U.S. and the Quartet have to recognize that our people do not buy illusions … our people are not interested in launching negotiations as they would be useless negotiations under Israeli stubbornness."
Mashaal said his group will keep working on a prisoner exchange with Israel to win the release of hundreds of Palestinians in return for Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit, who was captured three years ago near Gaza.
"So far, the Israeli intransigence has stopped all efforts but we are still ready to reach a prisoner exchange," Mashaal said. "Netanyahu's only choice to get back Schalit is a serious deal."
Mishall called on Mr. Obama to pull out Lieutenant-General Keith Dayton, the U.S. security coordinator in the region, who is supervising the training of Palestinian forces in the West Bank, saying his presence was the "main obstacle" for any reconciliation.
Hamas overran Gaza two years ago, leaving Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas only in control of the West Bank. Abbas has been clamping down on Hamas in the West Bank since the Gaza takeover, and some 2,100 U.S.-trained Palestinian forces play a key role in that effort.
Mashaal said a Hamas delegation will be flying to Egypt to take part in Sunday's talks with representatives of Abbas' Fatah movement.