Not an option. Jihad (Illustration)
Photo: AFP
'Ceasefire not an option'
Islamic Jihad says Hamas did not ask group to join reported ceasefire efforts. 'Truce is not on the table in light of Israeli aggression' says Jihad spokesman
The Islamic Jihad announced Saturday that despite the reports the Hamas is drafting terms for a temporary hudna – a Ceasefire – with Israel, there has been no discussion between Jihad and Hamas about a truce with Israel.
"We don't think the priority should be talking about a truce," said Islamic Jihad's Nafez Azzam.
Truce?
Senior Hamas official tells London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat that his organization is seriously mulling ceasefire with Israel on Gaza front, and is discussing the idea with other Palestinian factions. Adds no offer of this nature has been made so far
Shortly before the Jihad made the statement, the London based Arab-language Al-Shark Al-Awsat newspaper reported a senior source in Hamas as saying Hamas is considering offering Israel a non-conditional truce.
Al-Shark Al-Awsat further reported that the matter was still under deliberation, stressing no such offer has been made to Israel yet.
"Hamas is seriously thinking about a hudna and is trying to gain support from other Palestinian factions to accept it… if we are successful there will be no terms just a ceasefire on our side and on Israel's part," continued the report.
Over 20 Palestinians were killed in IDF operations in the Gaza Strip over the past week. The Prime Minister's Office denied reports suggesting Israel was considering accepting the ceasefire.
