Mashaal: Bush emboldened Zionists to raid Gaza

Hamas Political Bureau Chief condemned Israel's Gaza raid which left 19 Palestinians martyred, calling it the fruit of Bush's visit to the Middle East.

"This crime is the ugly fruit of Bush's visit to the region. He has incited the Zionists and has exerted pressure on the Palestinian side to become more hard line against Palestinian dialogue," Khalid Mashaal said in an interview with AP.

"Bush's visit to the region gave the Zionists a green light and this is the practical implementation by the criminal [Zionist PM Ehud] Olmert in the Gaza strip," Mashaal said.

"This proves that our people are great and our leaders sacrifice their sons. These are the real leaders that meld with their people and defend them, not those who infiltrate to the futile negotiating table with the Zionist entity," he said.

Mashaal vowed the Palestinian resistance would provide retributions for the Gaza raid with more resistance, steadfastness and national unity.