Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal vowed to a cheering crowd in Gaza: "We will never give up a single centimeter of Islamic Arab Palestinian. Jihad and resistance are the true way to liberation.” He called on Arab governments to provide weapons, aid and funds. “The right of (the refugees) return is sacred and we shall never forego it." He went on to shout: “We’ll liberate Jerusalem, one centimeter at a time. We’ll kidnap more Israel soldiers and all our prisoners will be set free.”
Meshaal, exiled from the West Bank in 1967, was allowed to enter the Gaza Strip for the first time to take part in the 25th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement. He entered through the Rafah crossing from Egypt.