Palestinian factions in Cairo for ceasefire talks, Mesha'al says Hamas open to a truce

Mesha'al: Israel should bear the consequences of refusing calm

[ 27/04/2008 - 10:56 AM ]

DOHA, (PIC)--

Khalid Mesha'al, the Hamas supreme leader, has warned that Israel should bear the consequences if it did not respond positively to the Egyptian efforts regarding the calm issue. He underlined that his Movement would never accept a one-sided truce or give its final approval to it unless there are specific commitments from Israel.

In an interview with Al-Jazeera satellite channel, Mesha'al pointed out that Hamas agreed to start the truce in Gaza and then in the West Bank in order to lift the siege and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, highlighting that if Israel does not want calm, then it will be the other way.

The Hamas leader underscored that the truce is a conflict management tactic and a step within the square of resistance, adding that as long as there is occupation, there is resistance, but the resistance should take into account the general circumstances.

In a reply to a question about whether Israel would accept a Palestinian state within 1967 borders and the return of refugees and Jerusalem without recognizing it, he said that the Israeli occupation would not accept this offer unless it was forced to accept it.

Mesha'al expressed fears in this regard of imposing a settlement on PA chief Mahmoud Abbas according to the American vision, which is biased in favor of the Israeli occupation, during the forthcoming visit of US president George Bush to the region.

In another development, the Hamas Movement denounced the IOF troops for pounding at dawn Saturday a Palestinian house belonging to one of Hamas leaders called Tala'at Ma'arouf killing his 14-year-old daughter and injuring some others, considering it a "criminal, barbarian act". The Movement added that the Israeli tanks and warplanes continued to shell the house until it was completely flattened and became ruins, pointing out that the fate of Ma'arouf is still unknown.

Hamas underlined in this regard that the Israeli occupation understands only the language of force and does not care about any calm, pointing out that it would not stay passive towards such Israeli crimes.

Mesha'al: Hamas open to a truce, but prepared for escalation

Date: 27 / 04 / 2008 Time: 09:51
Bethlehem – Ma'an –

Exiled Hamas political leader Khalid Mesha'al says that Hamas is open to a tactical truce with Israel, but is prepared to escalate violent attacks if Israel rejects an offer for a ceasefire.

Mesha'al made these comments during an interview with Al-Jazeera television after a day of meetings with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, who has been mediating between Hamas and Israel.

Mesha'al said that his movement is still waiting on Egypt's official stance on the issue of a six-month ceasefire.

He said: "It is normal for any resistance that operates in its people's interest ... to sometimes escalate, other times retreat a bit... The battle is to be run this way and Hamas is known for that."

"In 2003, there was a ceasefire and then the operations were resumed."

"We are ready to cooperate seriously from a place of power," he added, warning, "If Israel does not accept, then we welcome confrontation."

Mesha'al demanded that Israel lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip, saying, "If the blockade is not to be lifted from Gaza, then the Gaza Strip will explode."

The Hamas leader also said he is ready to hold reconciliation talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, also the leader of the rival Fatah movement.

PRC leaders join Palestinian factions in Cairo for ceasefire talks on Monday

Date: 27 / 04 / 2008 Time: 12:08
Gaza – Ma'an –

A delegation representing the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) will head to Cairo on Monday at Egypt's invitation in order to discuss a possible ceasefire with Israel, a prisoner exchange, and Israel's siege of the Gaza Strip.

According to PRC spokesperson Abu Mujahid, PRC Secretary-General Hajj Kamal Nayrab, known as "Abu Awad," and Muhammad Al-Baba, the director of the PRC's information office will attend the Egyptian-sponsored meetings.

Abu Mujahid said that "the PRC believes Israel has always broken previous ceasefire agreements." He said a ceasefire should be bilateral and comprehensive, meaning that it must halt all Israeli hostilities and lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip. There must be guarantees that Israel will stick to any agreement that may be signed.

The PRC began as an armed movement to defend refugee camps in Gaza from Israeli incursions at the beginning of the second Palestinian Intifada, or uprising. The group is composed of fighters and security officials from numerous other Palestinian factions.

Leaders from the left-wing Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) are also attending meetings with Egyptian officials in Cairo on Monday.
Egypt is leading efforts to mediate between Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip and Israel.

Israel conditions halt of homemade shells and weapons smuggling for ceasefire

Sunday April 27, 2008 15:05 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli media sources reported Sunday that the Israeli occupation government has conditioned halt of homemade shells as well as weapons smuggling through the Egypt-Gaza border lines as a precondition for a 'non-binding ceasefire with the Palestinians'.

The Israeli sources said that the Israeli occupation government will have no pretext to carry out military attacks on the Gaza Strip, once such a condition is guaranteed.

The sources added that such an Israeli position came after the ruling Hamas party in Gaza offered last Thursday a ceasefire initiative that is meant to end homemade shells fire onto Israel as Israel would lift the Gaza siege and halt military attacks.

According to the Israeli radio, Israel never negotiates with Hamas and any ceasefire with the Palestinians, should not come within an agreement.

Tomorrow, representatives of the Palestinian factions in Gaza will be meeting in Cairo with Egyptian mediators, who received the Hamas offer on Thursday.

The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine expressed reservation to the offer, saying it is inconsistent with its declared position that any ceasefire should be comprehensive and mutual.

The latest ceasefire initiatives states that a six-month period of calm will be observed in Gaza first, then at a later stage, the calm will be extended to the West Bank.

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