Olmert: War is waging in southern Israel
Despite weekend talk of ceasefire, PM resolutely rejects possibility of negotiations with Hamas, calls events in Gaza strip ‘war between IDF and terror groups’, vows IDF operations will continue
The prime minister noted that “the operations in Gaza will continue, though with great care not to bring about a humanitarian crisis that would impact innocent civilians”. Olmert also pointed out that “this type of humanitarian policy requires a great deal of patience and resilience”.
Addressing weekend rumors of an impending ceasefire with Hamas, Olmert resolutely stated that “Israel will not negotiate with those (Palestinian groups) that do not except the basic ‘Quartet tenets’, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad,” and that “this governmental policy will not change”.
During the meeting, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that the IDF must continue it offenses against Hamas infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. "Hamas is considering a ceasefire because IDF operations are so successful," he said, adding that Israel is doing everything within its power to retrieve kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
Hamas ‘willing to negotiate’
Hamas, on its part, seems open to the possibility of a ceasefire with Israel. In a weekend interview with the Palestinian news agency, Maan, Ahmad Yosef, aid to Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, said that Hamas would not be opposed to a ‘hudna’ with Israel, if the latter halts its military operations in Gaza.
“We are willing to consider a ceasefire that will end the blockade on Gaza, but it will be time limited and will carry certain conditions,” said Yosef.
Other Hamas officials seem to be echoing this sentiment. A senior Hamas official in the Gaza Strip noted that the organization was ready to consider an unconditional ceasefire with Israel, though he categorically rejected claims that Hamas has already made an official offer to the Israeli government.
The aforementioned Hamas source told London-based newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat Sunday that “discussions regarding an unconditional ‘hudna’ are rampant both within Hamas, as well as within other Palestinian groups, and we hope that these are successful.”
The tone in Islamic Jihad, however, appears to be far less conciliatory. The organization's spokesman stated that: “We cannot focus on ceasefire talks right now…there is no place for talk of a ‘hudna’ in the midst of ongoing Israeli aggression.”
Talk of a ceasefire was also marred by ongoing Palestinian attacks on Israel. A Qassam rocket was once again fired on Sdeort Saturday, one more in a string of ongoing attacks on the battered town.
