The Palestinian leadership, including Hamas, should overcome certain challenges to save the Palestinian cause, former Chief of Hamas Political Bureau Khalid Mesh'al said.

In a scientific conference held in Gaza dubbed as ‘Hamas: 30 Years on,  Reality and Hopes’, Mesh’al said that there are eight challenges for the Palestinian leadership, adding that the first is making a big turn in the resistance process and fighting the Israeli Occupation ahead of liberating Palestine.

Mesh’al added that the responsibility of the Palestinian leaders to find an exit of the division based on the national principles is another challenge posed to the Palestinian cause, reiterating the necessity to end the split and build up our national unity and national project after redefinition.

Mesh’al explained that rearranging the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and redefining the Palestinian Authority (PA) is another challenge to the Palestinian cause, adding that the PLO must open its doors to all the Palestinians, rather than remaining monopolised by a certain party.

He noted that Gaza has the right to live without a siege urging the PA to halt its security collaboration with the Israeli Occupation and pressure it to end the settlement expansion in the West Bank.

He called on all the Palestinian people to unite behind the Palestinian resistance to support the Palestinians in Jerusalem.

He reaffirmed the need that all the Palestinian factions, not only Hamas, has to keep up with the development of the conflict with the Israeli Occupation.

“We need to regain the consideration of the Palestinian cause and make it on top of the priorities of Arabs in the light of the crises hitting the region and make breakthroughs on the international arena,” he continued.

The Hamas leader called for boycotting the Israeli occupation and prosecuting its leader for war crimes committed against the Palestinian people.

Regarding the claims by some sides that Hamas wants to isolate Gaza from the West Bank, Mesh'al said, “Gaza will not be a separate part of the future Palestinian state.”

Concerning the efforts that Hamas exerts to lift the blockade on Gaza, Mesh’al stressed that the movement has the right to work for ending the Israeli siege imposed on Gaza, noting, “Hamas does not care about others who downplay its work.”

Mesh’al explained that Hamas told the Palestinian factions in a message that it does not want to put all burden on Gaza urging them to find new ways of fighting the Israeli occupation.

“We want a resistance project laid on the shoulders of all the Palestinians,” he continued.