BEIJING, Dec. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Khaled Meshal, the political chief of Hamas, has arrived in the Gaza Strip, along with his deputy and three other members of the movement’s leadership.

Khaled Meshal, Hamas Political Chief, said, "I am back in Gaza. And I say I am back because I never visited Gaza before, but Gaza was always in my heart. I am back in Gaza because it never left my heart. I left the West Bank in 1967, and I was back only once in 1975. This is the first time since that I am in Palestine, after 37 years."

Meshal was officially received at a crossing from Egypt by the head of the Hamas government, Ismail Haneya, along with ministers and other senior Hamas leaders. Meshal is making his first visit to Gaza to attend Hamas’s 25th anniversary rally on Saturday. He’ll also visit the homes of a Hamas military chief and one of the group’s spiritual leaders. Both were assassinated by Israel.

Meshal’s landmark trip reflects his militant organization’s growing acceptance by the international community and its defiance of Israel. Israel has mostly kept silent on Meshal’s visit.

(Source: CNTV.cn)