Khaled Meshaal, the politburo chief of Islamic Hamas movement, arrived in the Gaza Strip Friday afternoon through Rafah crossing and started a three-day historic visit to the coastal enclave.

As soon as he arrived at the Palestinian side of Rafah crossing, Meshaal went down on his knees and kissed the soil of the Gaza Strip.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, told reporters that " this visit is Meshaal's first ever visit in Gaza."

Meshaal arrived together with his deputy Musa Abu Marzooq and three other members of the Hamas politburo, Abu Zuhri said. They were officially received at the crossing by the head of Hamas government Ismail Haneya, ministers and other senior Hamas leaders and militants, in addition to officials and leaders of other factions, including rival Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party.

Meshaal is scheduled to stay in the coastal enclave for three days, according to the spokesman.

"The visit of Meshaal to Gaza is one of the fruits of the victory Hamas has achieved during the eight-day war on Gaza in November," Abu Zuhri said, adding that "Gaza is freed now and will receive whoever visitors it wants."

Meshaal's wife and 14 members of his family arrived in the Gaza Strip Thursday night, and the families of Abu Marzooq and the three politburo members also crossed into Gaza through Rafah crossing on Friday.

Hamas militants wearing black masks and olive-green military uniforms and carrying light and heavy weapons were deployed along the main road between Rafah crossing and Gaza city. Some of the militants, members of Hamas armed wing al-Qassam Brigades, were carried by four-wheel-drive vehicles, and dozens of others were on foot. Hamas police and security forces were also deployed in the main streets.

"Meshaal will visit the house of late spiritual leader and founder of the movement Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and will also visit the house of Amed al-Ja'bari, the commander of Hamas armed wing," said Abu Zuhri.

Yassin was killed in March 2004 and al-Ja'bari was killed on Nov. 14, 2012. Meshaal will also visit the house of al-Dalou family, which was struck by Israeli warplanes in Gaza city and lost 14 of its members.

Meshaal will also attend a rally on Saturday to mark the 25th anniversary for the establishment of Hamas and is scheduled to address the crowds. He will also hold meetings with various leaders of Palestinian factions.

"It is a historic day and it is the feast of victory. I would say that this visit to Gaza was the fruit of our struggle and our patience," said wife of Abu Marzooq.

Taher al-Noono, Hamas government's spokesman, said that "Israel had failed to isolate Hamas and all its attempts to weaken us failed."

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