There is good news for everyone concerned about the prospects for peace in Israel and Gaza.
Israel has responded positively to the call of France to consider temporary stoppage of rocket and mortar attacks on Hamas targets in Gaza. A 48-hour halt to the on-going bombardment by Israel on pre-determined targets in Gaza may happen anytime.
Yahoo reports: ‘Israel, under international pressure , is considering a 48-hour halt to its punishing 4-day air campaign on Hamas targets in Gaza to see if Palestinian militants will stop their rocket attacks on Southern Israel, Israel officials said Tuesday. Any offer would be coupled with a threat to send in ground troops if the rocket fire continues.
It is quite clear that the 48-hour stoppage of air attacks is premised on the condition that Hamas will likewise stop its continued rocket and mortar attacks on Israel boarders. If Hamas does not respond positively by stopping its attacks, Israel will resume aerial attacks and will have the option to use its ground forces for a heightened assault on Hamas Targets.
Hamas has responded with a positive tone but said that ‘any halt to militant rocket and mortar fire would require an end to Israel’s crippling blockade of the Gaza Strip. If they halt the aggression and the blockade, then Hamas will study these suggestions, said Hamas’ Mushir Masri.
It is certainly difficult for Hamas because, having witnessed the losses that they have just suffered on a large scale, their credibility in on the line and they’re not going to easily agree to a cease fire that goes back to the conditions that prevailed before, after all these losses, said Shibley Telhami, a political science professor
In the face of the positive developments on the possibility of a temporary stoppage of hostilities, Israeli warplanes continue to unload bombs on targets in Gaza. Earlier, Israel warplanes hit Hamas targets that include public buildings and military installations inside Gaza.
The four day old war has killed 374 Palestinians and injured thousands of innocent victims in Gaza and Israel boarder…
Hamas has been calling on the international community to do something positive and not just issue statement of condemnation on the on-going attacks by both sides.
The US government said that Hamas must stop its rocket and mortar attacks in order to put an end ton the four-day old war. Condoleezza Rice called on leaders in the Middle East to press for a durable solution
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