Assad Congratulates Palestinians on Gaza Victory

 
24-1-2009

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad congratulated Hamas politburo Chief Khaled Meshaal on the Islamic resistance movement's victory over "Israel" in Gaza at a meeting in Damascus on Saturday, official media said.

Assad "congratulated the Palestinian people on the victory scored by the resistance in the Gaza Strip," the official SANA news agency said.

According to Assad, the achievements in Gaza attest to the Palestinian people's commitment to their inalienable rights. ""Israel's" inability to achieve its objectives despite using the deadliest of weaponry is proof of the devotion of the Palestinian people to its territorial rights and its deep belief in victory against occupation and aggression," it quoted Assad as saying.

Meshaal and his delegation responded by expressing their "deep appreciation of Syria for its efforts at all levels to support the resistance of the Palestinian people in Gaza during and after the "Israeli" aggression," stressing that "Syria is a partner in the victory achieved by the Palestinian people."

The Hamas delegation said it is to set off on a regional tour to several countries in order to express their gratitude to their supporters, noting that Syria was the first country on the tour.

A statement issued by Hamas said the tour aims to express the group's appreciation to states that "stood by the Palestinian people during the criminal Zionist aggression in the Gaza Strip.