Israeli-Hamas Truce Begins

CHAN:
Last year, over 3,000 rockets and mortar bombs fired from the Gaza Strip, part of them from civilians' concentrations, have struck settled areas in Israel. And now after long negotiations in Egypt a ceasefire is taking place in the area. Our Israeli correspondent tells us more.

STORY:
Calm returns to Gaza as a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas begins. An Israeli missile strike killed a Palestinian fighter and wounded another shortly before the truce came into force at dawn.

In a speech on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that the agreement was 'fragile and likely to be shortlived,' playing down hopes that the six-month ceasefire could pave the way to a permanent truce.

[Ehud Olmert, Israeli Prime Minister]:
"The Hamas and the other terrorist organizations who operate under its command have not transformed themselves and did not turn into peace seekers."

Instead, the pact is being seen as the Islamist group's last chance to avoid another Israeli military incursion into the Gaza Strip.

For Hamas, which routed the forces of Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to take over Gaza a year ago, suspending hostilities should spell some relief from an Israeli-led blockade.

One Hamas leader, Sami Abu Zuhri, said he expected border crossings to reopen soon.

[Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas Leader in Gaza]:
"We call upon the Israel enemy to abide by the agreement and to translate it on the ground by stopping all forms of aggression against our people, and preparing for lifting the siege, and opening the crossings."

If the truce holds, Israel is planning to ease but not lift its blockade on Gaza.

Gazans have experienced a dramatic drop in their standard of living since the embargo was imposed two years ago following Hamas' election victory. Hundreds of Palestinians and more than a dozen Israelis have been killed since the last ceasefire collapsed in April 2007.

There are fears among Israelis, especially those living in the firing line close to the Gaza border, that Hamas may be using the pause as an opportunity to regroup and rearm.

Category:

News & Politics

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• Israeli
• Hamas
• Truce
• Gaza-Strip
• Egypt
• ceasefire
• Palestinian
• Ehud-Olmert
• Abbas

[gangdeal]

gombress youre the joke not just for the 2009 even for this whole century =D ..man i really wanna know how you can think smartly like that man ..youre genius man ..=D hahahahahahaha end of the arab world =D but you seemed hurt to me .. ,aybe an arab guy fucked up your mind =D thats why you speaking smartly =D

[everest300]

Jacob(Israel), Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be everyone that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. Genesis27

And God said... thy name shall not be called anymore Jacob, but Israel... And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply;... And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. Genesis35

[gombress]

This is signs the end of the arabs world. now the oil price is fall to the ground. they will have no more money to support those terrorist. many and many people around the world using GPS, by using GPS yo will no more driving around to find the address burning the gas and also many electric cars, hydrogen cars and hybrid cars. you see? oil price is still low even israel strikes hamas. I am not a GPS seller but if you don't get one, you are missing something.

[omriadir1]

ehud holemert wee love you !!!