Hamas reconsiders current truce with Israel due to Israeli violations

Sunday October 19, 2008 15:15 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies

The ruling Hamas party in Gaza is currently reconsidering its current truce deal with Israel, as party leaders have voiced their skepticism over Israel's commitment to the truce over the past four months.

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Osama Almzaini, a local Hamas leader, was quoted as saying that the Cairo-brokered agreement was based on Hamas's acceptance to give the truce a chance for three months.  During those three months, Israel was supposed to show commitment to a genuine Tahdiya, or 'truce', with the Palestinian factions.

Almzaini's remarks came after media reports that Israel had asked Egyptian mediators to extend the current six-month-long ceasefire for three additional months, prompting Palestinian resistance factions, led by Hamas, to reconsider the truce deal.

Ismail Redwan of Hamas, asserted that resistance factions have yet to start a dialogue on whether to terminate or extend the ceasefire time period.

"We need an overall vision, to come out with a unified Palestinian decision on the ceasefire, in order to pressure the Egyptian side to push Israel to meet their truce deal obligations", Redwan explained.

The Hamas leader also maintained that "if the factions agree on ending the truce unilaterally, we will accept and inform our Egyptian brothers about that".

The Hamas military wing, the Ezzildin Elqassam Brigades, had its own take on the issue, as the Elqassam's spokesman in Gaza, Abu Obaida, was quoted by media outlets as saying, "If the [Israeli] occupation does not fully abide by the truce, the brigades will be ready for any consequences".

He added that his faction never trusts the 'enemy' , making clear that the Elqassam's fighters are ready for any outcomes if the truce were to come to an end, and reiterating the faction's right to resist the Israeli occupation.

A number of resistance factions in Gaza have recently called for ending the ceasefire with Israel, due to what they term  'Israeli procrastination' in committing to the truce deal.

The current truce was put into effect on June19 of this year, and was supposed to last for three months.  Under the terms of the truce, the ruling Hamas party in Gaza, along with other resistance factions, agreed to halt the firing of homemade shells onto nearby Israeli towns.  Israel agreed to lift the blockade of the coastal territory.  While the Palestinian side has abided by its obligations under the truce, Israel has yet to take any steps to lift, or even ease, its blockade of Gaza.

gaza strip | truce | news report rami at imemc dot org