Gaza militants deny they agreed to unilateral ceasefire with Israel

[barb162]

Canadian Press
Published: Saturday, July 22, 2006 GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Militant groups disputed a claim by Palestinian officials Saturday that agreement had been reached for a ceasefire, halting rocket fire at Israel but the midnight local time deadline passed without renewed violence.

Senior Palestinian officials said the rocket fire would halt if Israel stopped launching raids into the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military said it was aware of the internal Palestinian ceasefire contacts and would wait to see what happens.

However, three militant groups - Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Islamic Jihad and the Hamas military wing - denied a ceasefire had been agreed, saying their rocket attacks were a response to Israeli aggression.

The Palestinian officials said the unilateral ceasefire is aimed at ending an Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip that began June 28, three days after militants raided an Israeli army post, killing two soldiers and capturing another.
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http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=f1749a7c-730f-4ab6-8737-f640be2e25e8&k=36054

[barb162]

1. and from the Guardian version of same

snip
bu Kosai, a spokesman for the Al Aqsa Brigades, said: ``This report is baseless. We are going to continue launching our rockets toward the Zionist communities as long as the aggression continues. As long as the aggression exists, it's our right to respond.''

He also said, ``We made contacts with all our brothers who are working in the military field who knew nothing about this report and this agreement.''

Abu Ahmed, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad, said: ``This is a completely false report. Resistance will continue because the aggression exists and rockets are one of the tools we use in this resistance
snip
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5968141,00.html

[pelsar]

2. that was quick....

ceasefire....sort of.....

[barb162]

4. Wasn't it though. Lightning fast

[pelsar]

3. self delete

[Igel]

5. Sounds familiar.

I recall a Hamas ceasefire "request" that was essentially "we, Hamas, won't shoot at you; you, Israel, won't shoot at any Palestinian group."

It was rejected; the rejection was condemned.