Hamas Announces Ceasefire in Gaza

[tekisui]

Source: BBC

The Palestinian militant group Hamas has announced an immediate ceasefire with Israel in Gaza.

A statement read by a Hamas spokesman said the group would hold fire for a week to give Israel time to withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip.

The move came hours after a unilateral Israeli ceasefire came into effect.

The cessation of hostilities was earlier cast into doubt by fresh rocket fire into Israel and an Israeli air strike on militants in Gaza.

more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7836205.stm

[maddezmom]

1. not looking good, Clashes follow Israeli 'cessation'

Clashes follow Israeli 'cessation'


The war has caused billions of dollars in damage to Gaza's infrastructure

The Israeli military has continued its operation in the Gaza Strip, killing one civilian in Khan Younis and carrying out air raids in the north.

The attacks came just hours after the country's prime minister declared an end to hostilities.

Ehud Olmert had said late on Saturday that Israel had "achieved its military objectives" to end the launching of rockets into Israel and disable the Hamas faction which rules the Gaza Strip.

But by Sunday morning, 10 rockets had been fired into Israel, and Palestinian fighters were engaged in an exchange of fire with Israeli soldiers in Jabaliya.

Israel carried out aerial sorties, claiming to have hit rocket-launching sites.


more:http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/200911834825963827.html

[bemildred]

2. The only interesting things going on are the meeting in Egypt and the Inauguration.

I expect we will have an endless round of bickering and tit-for-tat on the ground until the Israeli elections are over, then we will see if anything is on the table. Hopefully we will at least see some basic services restored.

[ohio2007]

6. Guess you missed the story out of north Korea

They have threatened to release their munhkin army into the south.



another Cold Winter in the north

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Given the lack of Hamas C&C, clashes for 24-48 hours are to be expected

[Scurrilous]

4. Israel begins pulling troops from Gaza; soldiers say 'could have done more'

Infantrymen leaving Gaza pursuant to Saturday's cabinet decision think cessation of operation too hasty, say IDF could have and should have crushed Hamas will to shoot rockets at Israel

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3658260,00.html

<snip>

"Cleared for publication: The IDF began pulling some of its troops out of the Gaza Strip Sunday, following Israel's decision on a unilateral ceasefire. The troops redeployed to areas near the security fence.

Among many soldiers in the field, many of whom have been pulled out in the past several hours, Israel's declared truce appears to constitute a missed opportunity to crush Hamas' will to fire at Israeli civilians. Some reservists reported, though, that Hamas appeared weak.

"We could have done a lot more. There's a feeling the operation ended too early," one soldier told Ynet. He and his colleagues are staying alert in an attempt to block ceasefire violations – rocket fire – by Hamas or other Palestinian organizations.

These soldiers maintain that an operation such as Cast Lead should leave Hamas "devoid of desire" to continue aiming rockets at Israel. "We can continue without a problem, in urban Palestinian areas, in Gaza City or anywhere else. All they need to do is tell us to," soldiers said.

Moreover, many wonder why troop presence has been reduced without any sort of formal resolution. "I'm sure any reservist would be willing to give another month if he knew that, at the end, (kidnapped soldier) Gilad Shalit would be returned home," said one reservist.

Many reservists also said that they had expected a much fiercer enemy. "It's been pretty quiet. The regular troops did a good job here and, honestly, there were few incidents (of gun battle) during the week that we were there," said one reservist.

"The army used a lot of fire power to cover our backs," reservists said, noting the vast damage in urban Gaza. "Unfortunately, the ones paying the price are the Palestinian civilians, many of whom have been left without homes or infrastructure."

[ohio2007]

5. Hamas gives Israel one-week ultimatum ( get out or we continue the bloodbath)

dear GOD

do what they tell you, they may not be so generous next time;


Hamas has announced an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, giving Israel one week to completely withdraw its forces from the area

Hamas holds every card

[Vegasaurus]

7. That's what they think

despite the reality of their being a big bunch of whiny babies who hide in bunkers and put their children in danger.

Big cowards.

Also, they are weak, and Israel pounded them, despite their bravado.

Hamas hold NO cards (except the card to misery for their people).

[azurnoir]

8. And according to the post above yours #4 and othe sources

IDF is withdrawing right now as i write although Olmert is declaring a great victory