Attacks strain Gaza truce
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 14, 2009 00:00
JERUSALEM - An agreement between Hamas and Israel to bring quiet to the war-torn Gaza Strip could be announced within days, Hamas officials said, but a cross-border exchange of fire between the sides Friday further strained an informal cease-fire.
Two rockets fired by Gaza militants hit near a communal farm and the town of Sderot, the Israeli military said. No one was injured, and no armed group took responsibility for the attack. Hours later, Palestinian security officials said, an Israeli airstrike killed a man and critically wounded another near the Gaza town of Khan Younis. The dead man was a member of the small, violent Popular Resistance Committees group.
In the West Bank city of Hebron, staff at a local hospital said a teen boy was killed by Israeli army fire during a clash between troops and stone-throwing Palestinian youths. Doctors at Alia Hospital named the dead boy as Izzadine Jamal, 14. They did not know if he was among those attacking the Israelis.
Rocket fire and shooting incidents along the Gaza-Israel border have persisted since the end of Israel's devastating offensive against Hamas in the territory. Israel halted the operation on Jan. 18, and Hamas declared a cease-fire later the same day.
Central demands
Friday's exchanges came as Hamas officials said talks in Cairo aimed at achieving a long-term truce were close to success. A Hamas delegation is in the Egyptian capital, and an Israeli envoy has been flying in periodically from Tel Aviv. Egypt is mediating between Israel and Hamas because the sides will not talk directly to each other. Late Thursday, Hamas deputy leader Moussa Abu Marzouk told Egypt's official MENA news agency that the Islamic militant group has agreed to an 18-month truce with Israel, and that it would be announced within two days after the group consults with other Palestinian factions. Abu Marzouk said the deal calls for Israel to reopen its border crossings into Gaza, fulfilling Hamas' central demand. Little has leaked from the Israeli side on the truce talks. Israeli officials would not comment Friday.
It is unclear how the results of Israel's national election this week are affecting the Cairo talks. The election ended with the moderate foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, winning one more parliament seat than hard-line Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu. But with a majority of hard-line lawmakers now in parliament, Netanyahu has better chances of cobbling together a coalition government. He met with potential allies Friday. Coalition wrangling is expected to last weeks, at least.
In the West Bank city of Hebron, staff at a local hospital said a teen boy was killed by Israeli army fire during a clash between troops and stone-throwing Palestinian youths. Doctors at Alia Hospital named the dead boy as Izzadine Jamal, 14. They did not know if he was among those attacking the Israelis.
Rocket fire and shooting incidents along the Gaza-Israel border have persisted since the end of Israel's devastating offensive against Hamas in the territory. Israel halted the operation on Jan. 18, and Hamas declared a cease-fire later the same day.
Central demands
Friday's exchanges came as Hamas officials said talks in Cairo aimed at achieving a long-term truce were close to success. A Hamas delegation is in the Egyptian capital, and an Israeli envoy has been flying in periodically from Tel Aviv. Egypt is mediating between Israel and Hamas because the sides will not talk directly to each other. Late Thursday, Hamas deputy leader Moussa Abu Marzouk told Egypt's official MENA news agency that the Islamic militant group has agreed to an 18-month truce with Israel, and that it would be announced within two days after the group consults with other Palestinian factions. Abu Marzouk said the deal calls for Israel to reopen its border crossings into Gaza, fulfilling Hamas' central demand. Little has leaked from the Israeli side on the truce talks. Israeli officials would not comment Friday.
It is unclear how the results of Israel's national election this week are affecting the Cairo talks. The election ended with the moderate foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, winning one more parliament seat than hard-line Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu. But with a majority of hard-line lawmakers now in parliament, Netanyahu has better chances of cobbling together a coalition government. He met with potential allies Friday. Coalition wrangling is expected to last weeks, at least.