Hamas says committed to truce

Damascus: Hamas's exiled deputy leader said yesterday that the militant group was committed to a ceasefire with Israel but not until the Jewish state stops its aggression on Palestinians.

Mousa Abu Marzouk's comments in the Syrian capital came as Israeli troops withdrew from the Gaza Strip yesterday morning as an unexpected ceasefire went into effect in hope of ending five months of deadly clashes.

But Hamas and another militant group, Islamic Jihad, continued firing volleys of homemade rockets into Israel, saying they had no intention of stopping their attacks.

"We are still committed to the quiet, but Israel is not committed. Israel is continuing its aggression and when it stops the aggression, the rockets will stop," Abu Marzouk said.

"If the enemy stops the aggression the quiet will go on." The rockets landed in open fields and caused no injuries, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered the army to show restraint.

Abu Marzouk's comments also come a day after Hamas political leader Khalid Mesha'al gave the strongest indication that Hamas might give moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a chance to try negotiating with Israel.

Mesha'al, who is in Cairo meeting with Egyptian officials, said on Saturday that the group was willing to allow negotiations with Israel but warned of a new uprising if talks fail to reach a deal for a Palestinian state within six months.