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Hamas lays out truce conditions
12/03/2008 19:04 - (SA)
Gaza City - Hamas' Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, on Wednesday publicly called for a truce with Israel, laying out his conditions for a break in fighting that has killed dozens of people in recent weeks.
Haniyeh demanded an end to Israeli military activity in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, a lifting of Israeli economic sanctions and the opening of Gaza's borders, which have been sealed since Hamas seized control of the area in June.
"We are talking about a mutual comprehensive calm, which means that the enemy must fulfil its obligations," Haniyeh said in a speech at Gaza's Islamic University.
"The Israelis must stop the aggression ... including assassinations and invasions, end the sanctions and open the borders."
"The ball is in Israel's court"
Haniyeh used the word "tahdia" to describe the informal cease-fire he sought. He avoided use of another word often used in Arabic, "hudna," because it would imply recognition of Israel's right to retaliate for attacks, Hamas officials said.
Both terms denote a temporary cease-fire rather than permanent peace.
With US backing, Egypt has been trying to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas following an especially bloody round of fighting that left five Israelis and more than 120 Palestinians dead.
"There are efforts by the Egyptian brothers who are working on this issue. We as Palestinians are waiting for the Israeli answers," Haniyeh said. "The ball is in Israel's court."
The fighting has subsided in recent days, but both sides have denied talk of a formal truce.
There are no direct contacts between the two sides.
- AP
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