Hamas lawmaker: "Next couple of months will determine fate of cease-fire"

Wednesday October 22, 2008 14:03 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies

Hamas lawmaker Mosheer Almasri said on Wednesday that the next couple of months will determine the fate of the current cease-fire with Israel.

Hamas lawmaker, Mosheer Almasri

Almasri was commenting on the Israeli military's decision to close all border crossings today in response to what Israel called the firing of a homemade shell in nearby Israeli areas.

"The current truce with Israel will be reconsidered by all Gaza-based factions, as the next couple of months will determine whether we continue with the truce or terminate it," he explained.

What is required for the time being is an Israeli commitment to the obligations of the Egypitian-brokered ceasefire agreement that would reopen all crossings. Almasri added that Egyptians would therefore have to impose pressure.

On June19, 2008, Israel and resistace factions, including the ruling Hamas, agreed to an Egyptian-brokered six-month-long cease-fire in Gaza. According to the deal , Israel would gradually reopen all of Gaza's crossings. So far Israel has not fulfilled the agreement.

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