The Israeli army yesterday launched several air strikes on the Gaza Strip, targeting a Hamas security compound in the town of Deir el-Balah in the center, as well as a number of border tunnels between Gaza and Egypt by the Saladin crossing. There was also a limited ground incursion. Meanwhile, Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khaled Meshaal said Iran played a major role in the Hamas victory over the Israeli aggression. Speaking to the Tehran University students, he said: “God willing, we shall liberate Jerusalem together, and we shall pray there,” reiterating his rejection of any lasting cease-fire with Israel without lifting the siege on Gaza. For his part, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called on Hamas to prepare for new Israeli attacks, according to the Iranian Fars News Agency. Meanwhile, President Mubarak, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal met for two hours yesterday to discuss the latest developments on the ground, after which meeting Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abul-Gheit and his Saudi counterpart headed to Abu Dhabi. The Palestinian ambassador to Cairo, Nabil Amr, said: “The meeting assessed the political situation, especially after the visit of U.S. envoy George Mitchell to the region, and the positive signs after the U.S. President Barack Obama assumed the presidency.” He added that Hamas will also meet with Omar Suleiman today.
