Region | Palestinian Territories
Hamas sets conditions for truce with Israel
Wants end to assassinations, raids and lifting of Gaza siege
- Reuters
- Published: 00:48 March 13, 2008
Gaza : Hamas set out its conditions on Wednesday for a ceasefire with Israel, calling for an end to all acts of Israeli "aggression" in the Gaza Strip and West Bank and the reopening of Gaza border crossings.
Hamas is demanding a say in the future functioning of the crossings, a condition rejected by Israel.
Hamas's terms mirrored proposals raised by Egyptian mediators trying to piece together a truce deal, which would also end Gaza rocket attacks on Israel by fighters from Hamas and other Palestinian groups.
"There must be a commitment by Israel to end all acts of aggression against our people, assassinations, killings and raids, and lift the [Gaza] siege and reopen the crossings," Esmail Haniya, leader of Hamas's administration in the Gaza Strip, said in a speech.
A ceasefire, he said, should be "reciprocal, comprehensive and simultaneous", apply both to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and be approved by other Palestinian factions. "We will not abandon you, our people in the West Bank," Haniya said. "Aggression against you is aggression against us."
Hamas had previously been vague about whether it would insist on including the West Bank in any Gaza truce.
A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert - in a nod to a de facto truce - said there there was "no need for negotiations" on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
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