Israel pledges to refrain from massive attacks
Photo: Reuters
Hamas agrees to end rocket fire
Photo: Reuters
Senior security official confirms lull agreement with Hamas
Now it's official: Despite Olmert's denials, defense official confirms agreement between Hamas, Israel worked out via Egyptian mediation; Israel to refrain from massive Gaza attacks in exchange for end to rocket fire
Violence in Gaza to end, for now: Despite earlier denials by top officials in Jerusalem, a senior defense official has confirmed Tuesday that an agreement on a lull in Gaza Strip fighting has been worked out.
According to the defense source, who asked to remain anonymous, Egypt played an active role in reaching the agreement in the aims of bringing about a truce that would see the Israeli "siege" on Gaza lifted. The official added that Israel is currently engaged in contacts with Egypt on doubling the number of Egyptian soldiers deployed on the Gaza border to 1,500.
In a conversation with French news agency AFP, the security official said that an agreement that would see an end to Israeli military operations in the Strip in exchange for an end to rocket attacks on Israel has been finalized via Egyptian mediation efforts.
Gaza Strip
Gaza sources claim Israel, armed Palestinian factions reach understanding on ceasefire in area, effective as of this weekend. Only one rocket fired at Negev in last two days, no IDF strikes registered in Strip. PMO denies any deal reached with Hamas
Egypt pledges to fight arms smuggling
The lull agreement reached between Israel and Hamas is subject to an Egyptian pledge to do everything in its power to prevent arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip, the defense official noted.
In addition, according to the report, Israel pledged to refrain from massive offensive operations but is reserving the right to carry out attacks on specific targets should the need arise.
Earlier Tuesday, London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Quds Al-Arabi reported that senior Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad has relayed to Egypt Israel's request for a month-long unofficial ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza.
The latest report joins earlier reports from the Arab world that confirmed Israeli-Palestinian understandings on a lull agreement. Last week, Ynet also reported that such agreement has been worked out, despite official denials.
