Israel-Hamas truce to begin Thursday morning

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Last update - 18:47 17/06/2008

Egypt confirms Israel-Hamas truce to begin Thursday morning

By The Associated Press

Egypt's state-owned news agency confirmed Tuesday that the Islamic group Hamas and Israel have agreed on a truce which is to begin on Thursday.

The MENA agency cites an unnamed high-level Egyptian official as saying that both sides have agreed on the first phase of an Egyptian-brokered agreement to end the violence in the coastal strip.

The announcement came just hours before six Islamic Jihad militants were killed in a series of Israel Air Force attacks in the southern Gaza Strip.

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According to the Egyptian news agency, the first phase of the truce is a mutual and simultaneous calm in the Gaza Strip starting at 6 a.m. Thursday.

"Egypt hopes that the two sides will exert all efforts to bring the calm to a success," the agency quoted the official as saying.

Israeli officials declined to confirm a deal, but said Israel's negotiator Amos Gilad had rushed to Cairo and that they were cautiously optimistic. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev also would not confirm or deny a deal.

Earlier Thursday, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Egypt would soon declare the deal unless unexpected events were to occur. "We are close to declaring an agreement on the calm, barring unforeseen developments," he said.

Another Hamas official said the two-phase deal could start as soon as Thursday and would begin with a three-day cessation of hostilities.

The official said following the trial three days, Israel would open a border crossing with Gaza to let in raw materials banned under a months-old Israeli blockade.

He added that the second phase would focus on Hamas' returning Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, who was abducted by militants from the group two years ago in a cross-border raid. In exchange, Israel would reopen Gaza's main gateway, the Rafah crossing with Egypt.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.

An Israeli official confirmed that the flow of humanitarian aids would resume if Hamas adhered to its end of the truce deal.

"If Hamas keeps the cease-fire, we can gradually deliver more goods and supplies," an Israeli official said, but added that any commitment to a particular level of supplies into Gaza would be kept "vague on purpose."

The Israeli official said Rafah could reopen only if there was "significant progress" toward Shalit's release. Israel controls access to the border terminal by European monitors who oversee its operation

"No shooting won't be enough to reopen Rafah. Progress on Gilad Shalit is required," he said.

As of Monday, Israel and Egypt had yet to finalize two issues: Defining the connection between the tahadiyeh and a deal for the release of Shalit and determining the degree of Egypt's commitment to countering arms smuggling from Sinai into Gaza.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/993640.html

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Dang you're fast. I'm just now getting updated reports on this. Thx for posting!

[Ban Hammer 13,133]

good

[mawilson 2,133]

good

Don't be so sure.

In Hamarabic, truce = rearm and regroup

[Ban Hammer 13,133]

good

Don't be so sure.

In Hamarabic, truce = rearm and regroup

we'll see. it's still not finalized yet, i'm sure hamas will find a way to muck it up.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

good

Don't be so sure.

In Hamarabic, truce = rearm and regroup

Also, "cease fire" = enemy CEASEs, we continue FIREing

[Dan J 277]

good

Don't be so sure.

In Hamarabic, truce = rearm and regroup

we'll see. it's still not finalized yet, i'm sure hamas will find a way to muck it up.

I was thinking Bush would find a way to muck it up.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Hamas = Hudna

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Well I do know Egypt's military is gearing up for a "mock war" for the next 8 weeks on this boarder so this should be interesting how this plays out as it's Hamas and Egypt and not Egypt and Isreal.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

good

Don't be so sure.

In Hamarabic, truce = rearm and regroup

we'll see. it's still not finalized yet, i'm sure hamas will find a way to muck it up.

I was thinking Bush would find a way to muck it up.

According to articles this morning Egypt and the US are cooperating on the border issues for the first time.

US personnel help Egypt find smugglers' tunnels

[Ban Hammer 13,133]

good

Don't be so sure.

In Hamarabic, truce = rearm and regroup

we'll see. it's still not finalized yet, i'm sure hamas will find a way to muck it up.

I was thinking Bush would find a way to muck it up.

is he gonna go fire rockets at israel?

[almaty 19]

good...it is the first step and progress...

[Saddle Bronc 124]

good

Don't be so sure.

In Hamarabic, truce = rearm and regroup

we'll see. it's still not finalized yet, i'm sure hamas will find a way to muck it up.

I was thinking Bush would find a way to muck it up.

Eh, his presence ain't necessary for that to happen.

[MandR 0]

Ceasfire with Hamas..... yeah, sure and it's going to snow in South Florida this coming winter........

I'm not holding my breath for this one.............

[Ban Hammer 13,133]

Ceasfire with Hamas..... yeah, sure and it's going to snow in South Florida this coming winter........

I'm not holding my breath for this one.............

global warming, we can blame it on both.