Region | Palestinian Territories
Israel snubs Hamas offer of six-month truce
Israel calls Hamas's offer a ruse aimed at allowing the Palestinian group to "bide time in order to rearm".
- Agencies
- Published: 09:51 April 25, 2008
- Image Credit: Reuters
- Hamas fighters on Thursday proposed a six-month truce with Israelis in the Gaza Strip.
Occupied Jerusalem: Israel dismissed on Friday a Hamas proposal to call a conditional six-month truce in the Gaza Strip.
Israel called the offer a ruse aimed at allowing the Palestinian Islamist group to "bide time in order to rearm and regroup".
"There would be no need for Israel's defensive actions if Hamas would cease and desist from committing terrorist attacks on Israelis," said Israeli government spokesman David Baker.
Baker said "Israel will continue to act to protect its citizens", in apparent reference to Israeli air strikes and raids in Gaza.
Hamas was unfazed by Baker's comments. "We still do not have a clear Israeli position. The ball is in the Occupation's court," said Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri. "We are ready for all political and military choices to end the siege."
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