Hamas won't consider truce with Israel after new attacks
MIDDLE EAST: Hamas hardened its stance after a new barrage of
Israeli airstrikes killed five militants, saying it would not consider a
truce and calling for more attacks on Israel.
The Islamic militant group also warned Israel that if it continued
its 10-day air assault, it would threaten the release of Cpl. Gilad
Shalit, the Israeli soldier nabbed last June by Hamas-linked militants.
Shalit has not been heard from or seen since his capture.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate from the rival Fatah
faction, has tried in recent days to revive a cease-fire with Israel.
Under his plan, Gaza militants would halt rocket fire for a month to
allow for negotiations on a more comprehensive truce that would include
the West Bank.
After a meeting late Friday, the militant groups initially asked for
48 hours to consider the proposal and respond.
But after the rash of new air attacks including five in less than an
hour, Hamas called on its fighters to "direct painful strikes at the
Zionist enemy."
Hamas "will not offer a free truce to the Zionist occupation," the
group said.
"If there is an end to the attacks, we can talk about a truce," said
Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the Hamas military wing.
He said Shalit's freedom was in danger, but not his life.
"The enemy knows that getting Shalit back is in our hands," he said.
"It would be a dream" that Hamas would release him while attacks
continued, he added.
Israel has launched dozens of targeted missile strikes over the past
10 days that have killed 48 Palestinians and damaged many Hamas
installations in an attempt to stop Hamas rocket fire from Gaza at
Israeli border towns.
Israel said some 225 rockets have landed in Israeli towns since May
15, killing one woman and sending thousands of frightened Israeli
residents fleeing.
Two rockets landed in Israel on Saturday, including a direct hit on a
home in Sderot. No one was injured.
In all, Israeli aircraft launched 14 missile strikes Saturday. Before
dawn, they struck near the house of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of
Hamas in a Gaza refugee camp, while troops in the West Bank arrested a
Hamas Cabinet minister.
Gaza, Sunday, AP |