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(Ynet) — Hamas Politburo Chief Khaled Mashaal called on the West Thursday to “recognize the atrocity” of the assassination of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and his burial at sea.

“Arabs and Muslims are human beings and the West should treat them with dignity, regardless of whether they are supporters or opponents of Osama bin Laden,” he said.

Hamas attracted verbal fire over the recent week for condemning the arch-terrorist’s death and calling him a “Shahid” (martyr). “There are moral rules to follow and the shedding the blood of Arabs and Muslims by Americans or others is unacceptable,” Mashaal said.

The Damascus-based Hamas leader also spoke of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, saying the fate of the Israeli soldier depended on “the Israeli government’s attitude . . . the ball is in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s court.