Hamas says willing to accept 6-month truce
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
Hamas is willing to observe a temporary truce in hostilities with Israel that would begin in Gaza and last for six months, this after all other Palestinian armed groups agree to the stated terms, top Hamas leader Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahar said at a press conference in Cairo on Thursday.
Al-Zahar said that the lull must be "mutual and simultaneous and the blockade must be lifted and the crossing points opened, including the Rafah crossing point (between Gaza and Egypt)."
Egyptian Intelligence chief, Minister Omar Suleiman, has agreed to summon representatives from all other Palestinian factions to discuss the proposed truce next Wednesday – including Islamic Jihad, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Hamas would also send delegates on its behalf. It remains unclear if Fatah will partake in the meeting.
Suleiman will then set the date for the official commencement of the agreement, al-Zahar said.
Al-Zahar in Cairo on Thursday (Photo: Reuters)
The issue of the blockade on Gaza's crossings and against Hamas would remain pivotal issues in any proposed truce, he added. "The ball is in Israel's court now. We retain the right to use any means necessary to bring to the end of the siege. We will not accept anything less than the full reopening of the crossings; we want life in Gaza to return to the way it was before."
PRC: Israel must cease aggressions
A spokesman for the PRC told Ynet on Thursday evening that the Palestinian demand will be a mutual ceasefire. "The Palestinian groups are prepared to hear the new proposal for calm from the Egyptian side. For our part, it is clear that the calm must entail the cessation of Israeli aggressions," said Muhammed al-Aa'l.
According to the spokesman the Palestinian groups will refuse to center the talks only on the firing of rockets towards Israel. "We will discuss lifting the siege, opening the crossings and improving the quality of life for the Palestinian people. We will not allow this debate to only be about the ceasefire. We are not begging for a truce, we want conditions that will improve the lives of Palestinians. Then we will discuss the political rights of the Palestinian people," he said.
Israel: Hamas just looking to regroup
The Hamas truce proposals are a shift from its previous position, which was that a truce should begin and apply at the same time in both Gaza and the West Bank.
Israel says it is ready for "quiet" at the Gaza border, but that it would require a complete halt to attacks by Hamas on Israelis, a stop to cross-border rocket fire from all Palestinian groups and an end to weapon smuggling into Gaza.
Israel's UN ambassador said a truce would give Hamas a chance to regroup.
"We don't think Hamas is trustworthy. Whenever they offer a truce, it is because we have been able...to hit them where it really hurts and they then need time in order to regroup, in order to re-arm and be ready for the next round," Dan Gillerman told reporters in New York.
"We do not intend to give them that time and we do not believe any truce offer that comes from Hamas is indeed trustworthy," he said.
Israel has said it is not negotiating a truce with Hamas but would have no reason to launch attacks on the Gaza Strip if rocket fire from the territory ceased. But it says it reserves the right to take military action to protect its citizens.
