Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal apologized on Monday for mistakes made during the takeover of the Gaza Strip, saying they were individual acts that do not represent Hamas policies. "What happened, I swear to God and God is a witness, was loathsome for us. But it is like a medicine pill that we were forced to swallow," he said in a speech at an Islamic conference held here. Parts of his speech were broadcast on the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite TV station. Hamas seized control of Gaza in mid-June, following a five-day battle against security forces loyal to the Fatah movement. In response, Abbas fired the Hamas-led coalition government and installed a West Bank-based emergency Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Salaam Fayad, a respected economist. Hamas denounced Abbas's measures as illegal, and said it would not recognize the new government.
Following the takeover, Hamas declared a general amnesty for members of the vanquished Fatah movement but since then, at least nine Fatah loyalists have been killed, according to Mezan, an independent Gaza-based human rights group. At least 20 others have been arrested, some of them beaten, with the fate of those seized often left in the hands of Hamas field commanders. Mashaal, who lives in exile in Syria, said he acknowledges mistakes took place, without providing examples or going into details. "I do not deny that some mistakes were made," he said. "They are marginal mistakes made by individuals that do not represent our policies. We apologize to God before apologizing to the people for them," he added.
Mashaal said dialogue was the only way out of the current crisis. "The problem is the other side rejects dialogue," he said, referring to Fatah.
