Hamas seeks renewal of Israel cease-fire
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-15 20:06
The Islamic militant group Hamas said Thursday it is
ready to restore its cease-fire with Israel several days after calling it off to
protest a deadly explosion on a Gaza beach.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail
Haniyeh, of the Islamic group Hamas, kisses Houda Ghalia, 10, during a
visit to her family house in Gaza Wednesday June 14, 2006. Houda's father,
Ali, was killed with five of her siblings on Friday, June 9, 2006, at a
seaside picnic by what Palestinians said was an Israeli shell. Israel said
an internal inquiry concluded it was not to blame. [AP]
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But Ghazi Hamad, spokesman for the Hamas-led Palestinian government, said the
offer was conditional on Israel accepting the Palestinians' demand "to stop
their aggression."
"This is very clear for us. We are interested to keep the situation and quit,
especially in the Gaza Strip," Hamad said. "We are ready to do it, but (only) if
the Israeli side has a strong intention to respond positively to the call ... to
stop their aggression."
Hamas called an end to the February 2005 truce Friday after eight Palestinian
beachgoers were killed in an explosion the Palestinians blame on Israel. The
Israeli army says it was not involved in the blast.
Hamas fired several dozen rockets toward southern Israel over the weekend,
but in recent days there has been a lull.
Israeli officials said Thursday the cessation is due to threats against
Hamas. Israeli officials earlier this week threatened to begin killing Hamas
leaders, including Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, if the rocket fire continued.
The Islamic Jihad militant group, which has never accepted the truce, fired
five rockets toward Israel on Thursday.
Hamas, which opposes the existence of Israel, has killed hundreds of Israelis
in 4 1/2 years of violence.
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