Israel refuses Hamas Proposed Calm and continues air raids on Gaza

Israel refuses Hamas Proposed Calm and continues air raids on Gaza

Hamas has declared its approval of mutual calm with Israel for six month; to begin with Gaza and extends to the West Bank later.


 


In it statement delivered in Cairo by Mahmoud al-Zahhar; a leading figure of the movement, Hamas stressed that the calm should be in the frame of Palestinian national agreement.


 


Hamas agreed with Egypt”s head of Intelligence, General Omar Suleiman, to call the Palestinian factions on Tuesday and Wednesday for discussing Hamas” proposal.


 


Zahhar said that other Palestinian factions; including Islamic Jihad Movement and leftist groups in Damascus, have declared their initial approval of Hamas” proposals.


 


The statement stressed the importance of opening Gaza”s border- crossings; especially Rafah”s crossing with the calm coming into effect. The movement called upon Egypt to open Rafah”s crossing if Israel refused or intercepted the calm.


 


Zahhar denoted that Egypt will contact the Palestinian Authority President in order “not to impede the issue of opening the crossings in Gaza, and begin effective procedures to open them if when agreeing on the calm”.


 


Israel declared its refusal of Hamas” calm proposal for six months in Gaza stating that the movement wants to recover from recent attacks.


 


“Hamas is need for time to be furnished with weapons and reorganize themselves, while Israel won”t need defensive procedures if Hamas stops terrorist operations against the Israelis” an Israeli speaker said.


Regarding Israeli air raids and military operations in Gaza, the speaker said “Israel will continue raids”.