Hamas official: “Hamas considers extending truce”

Friday October 17, 2008 22:55 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Yousef Farhat, Hamas spokesperson in the Central Gaza Strip, stated on Friday that Hamas might not agree to continue the truce brokered between Palestinian factions and Israel. He stressed that the movement is currently considering the issue.

Yousef Farhat of Hamas

Farhat's the statements came after a massive military show organized by the Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.

Farhat stated that his movement seeks a national Palestinian dialogue based on Palestinian standards and not on “Zionist and American demands”.

He also slammed President Mahmoud Abbas' security forces in the West Bank, claiming that these forces served the interests of the occupation.   

He added that Hamas would never allow Abbas' forces to resume their previous activities in the Gaza Strip.

Farhat said that Abbas' security forces had conducted an act of betrayal by uncovering a tunnel used by the resistance in the West Bank.

Commenting on Egypt's efforts to resume internal Palestinian talks, Farhat said that Hamas welcomes Egypt's efforts to unite Palestinian factions at the negotiations table, but also demanded Egypt to release Ayman Nofal, a leader of the Al Qassam Brigades, imprisoned in Egypt.

Furthermore, Farhat said that Israel did not meet any of its commitments to the truce especially regarding the export of goods to the Gaza Strip. “If Israel meets its commitments, Hamas will be seek to continue the truce”, he said.

 Yet, according to the Israeli online daily, Haaretz, some Hamas sources said that the movement would seek to continue the truce even if Israel did not fully reopen border terminals.

The official, according to Haaretz, added that Hamas was not interested in opening a front with Israel while Hamas-Fateh relations were still at odds.

palestine | truce | news report saed at imemc dot org