Security and diplomatic sources in Jerusalem clarified Friday that no negotiations were being held with Hamas,
following the Palestinian group's announcement that it is ready for a six-month truce.
The sources added, however, that Hamas was holding a dialogue with the Egyptians in a bid to reach a lull. They went on to say that at this stage, the IDF and the defense establishment were continuing their activities against the Palestinian terror, which includes Qassam rockets, smuggling of weapons into Gaza and terrorist attacks.
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Following meeting with Egyptian Intelligence chief, Hamas leader al-Zahar says Islamist movement prepared to observe six-month period of calm. 'Ball is in Israel's court now, and it is our right to use any means necessary to end siege,' he says |
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Another testimony to the ongoing terror from the Strip was seen Friday morning, with four Qassam rockets fired
from northern Gaza towards Ashkelon. The rockets landed in an industrial zone south of the city, one of them near a strategic facility. There were no reports of injuries.
Israeli sources have claimed that no negotiations were being held with Hamas and that the situation would continue until the group changes its stances regarding the three conditions set by the international community: Recognizing Israel,
renouncing terror and meeting the PA's previous commitments to Israel.
Moreover, the sources clarified, the Palestinian terror from Gaza continues and the statements made by Hamas in Cairo are not backed by agreements with other extreme Palestinian organizations like the Islamic Jihad,
which carried out Friday morning's shooting attack
in the Nitzanei Oz industrial zone. Therefore, as long as the terror activity continues, the IDF will continue its activities in the West Bank.
According to information collected in Jerusalem, the representatives of the other organizations operating in Gaza are expected to also arrive in Cairo, where they will meet with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, who will try to get the organizations to join Hamas' statement on a ceasefire.
Sources in Jerusalem have said that as long as all the organizations fail to lock their rifles and halt the smuggling attempts, the situation will not change and Israel will act according to its security needs.
As for the future, the Israeli sources clarified, should all the Palestinian terror organizations declare a ceasefire and implement it, the situation would change completely. Such statements have been made in the past by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert,
Defense Minister Ehud Barak
and other senior Israeli officials.
The moment the status around the Gaza Strip continues, the sources said, Israel will weigh its options according to its needs.
Shmulik Hadad contributed to this report
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