World News Blog

Olmert announces unilateral ceasefire in Gaza

Israel today announced a unilateral ceasefire in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel will halt its offensive in Gaza at 0000 GMT on Sunday but troops will remain and respond to Hamas fire.

Hamas however said it would continue fighting until Israeli troops left the enclave.

"If the Israeli military continues its existence in the Gaza Strip, that is a wide door for the resistance against the occupation forces," Osama Hamdan, a Hamas official in Lebanon told Al Jazeera.

Fawzi Barhum, a Hamas spokesman, said: "The Zionist enemy must stop all its aggression, completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip, lift the blockade, and open the crossings. We will not accept the presence of a single soldier in Gaza.

"The enemy's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire confirms that this is a unilateral war launched in one direction, from the enemy upon our people."

BBC News
Miliband welcomes Gaza ceasefire
BBC News, UK - 1 hour ago
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has welcomed Israel's decision to declare a unilateral ceasefire in Gaza. Describing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud ...
Egyptian President Calls for Immediate Gaza Cease-Fire Voice of America
Olmert announces Gaza ceasefire Aljazeera.net

Times Online

Israel Declares Cease Fire; Hamas Says It Will Fight On
New York Times - 1 hour ago
By STEVEN ERLANGER JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel announced late Saturday night that the Israeli military would begin a unilateral cease-fire in Gaza within hours while negotiations continued on how to stop the resupply of Hamas ...
Video: Gaza-West Bank divide grows - 17 Jan 09 AlJazeeraEnglish
Israel calls a halt to its assault on Gaza guardian.co.uk

Labels: ehud olmert, gaza crisis, hamas, israel, unilateral ceasefire

Israel to vote on unilateral ceasefire

Israel and Hamas appear closer to a truce, but the intensity of the fighting has not noticeably decreased.

Egypt is working closely with Hamas on truce conditions, while Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is expected to call for a security cabinet vote Saturday on a unilateral ceasefire.

Times Online

Sound And Fury In Gaza
Newsweek - 1 hour ago
Muhammed Muheisen / AP By Rod Nordland | Newsweek Web Exclusive If Hamas is getting bombed into submission, it doesn't much show.
Video: Israel Says Its Gaza Offensive Is Almost Over AssociatedPress
Israel to Vote on Gaza Truce Voice of America

Labels: gaza crisis, hamas, israel, unilateral ceasefire

Israel rejects cease-fire proposal

Israel today rejected a 48-hour ceasefire proposal from France amid increasing signs of a pending ground offensive in Gaza.

The Israelis appear intent on carrying out a pre-planned drive to root Hamas out of Gaza, and reports indicate that ground troops are building up along the border as air strikes continue. The timing of the operation appears planned to take advantage of the sensitive transition period in the United States with Barack Obama's inauguration coming in a few weeks.

Hamas fighters also continue to launch rockets into Israel taking advantage of early morning mist that degrades the capability of Israeli reconnaissance drones.

Protestors hold placards during a demonstration against the Israeli attacks on Gaza as the motorcade of U.S. president-elect Barack Obama drives past in Kailua, Hawaii December 30, 2008. REUTERS/Hugh Gentry (UNITED STATES)

Times Online

Israel Rejects 48-Hour Cease-Fire Plan
New York Times - 33 minutes ago
An Israeli soldier jumped off a tank near the border wit the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. More Photos > By ETHAN BRONNER and TAGHREED EL-KHODARY JERUSALEM - After five straight days of punishing air attacks, Israel rejected a proposal for a 48-hour ...

Video: Fighting in Gaza continues RussiaToday

Israel rejects truce call, attacks Gaza The Associated Press

Labels: cease-fire plan, france, gaza crisis, ground offensive, israel

Obama faces tough choices on Israel-Palestine issue

With the Gaza battle now in its fourth day, President-elect Barack Obama may be forced to deal with yet another major international crisis when he takes office.

The conflict could drag on as neither side shows any signs of wanting to end the fighting. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the aerial attacks on Gaza were "the first of several stages" of an operation to root out Hamas from the area.

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Reuters

Postcard to US President: Gaza

Rough Cut
Nov 05, 2008

On fourth day of Gaza battle, no end in sight
International Herald Tribune - 1 hour ago
By Ethan Bronner and Taghreed El-Khodary JERUSALEM: Israel launched air strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza for a fourth consecutive day on Tuesday as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the bombardment "the first of several stages," suggesting that ...
Video: Inside Story - Assault on Gaza continues - 29 Dec 08- Part 1 AlJazeeraEnglish
Israel Rejects Truce, Presses on With Gaza Strikes Washington Post

WELT ONLINE

Obama Defers to Bush, for Now, on Gaza Crisis
New York Times, United States - 9 hours ago
Otherwise, Mr. Obama could try to pressure surrogates to lean on Hamas, including Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza. He can try to build international ...
Video: Israel to fight Hamas to the end RussiaToday
Is Gaza conflict a crisis or an opportunity for Obama? Jewish Telegraphic Agency
News roundup: Gaza, the Super Bowl and Obama USA Today

Labels: barack obama, ehud olmert, gaza crisis, hamas, israel, palestine

U.N. officials say supplies needed in Gaza

United Nations officials said more supplies are needed in besieged Gaza that is suffering continuous air strikes.

Israel has allowed about a dozen supply trucks into the territory, but U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said that at least 100 trucks are needed to adequately address the problem. Provisions in Gaza are low because of a practical blockade that has been in place for months.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on both sides to halt fighting immediately.

Times Online

UN Officials Address Humanitarian Needs In Gaza
Voice of America - 3 hours ago
By Michael Bowman United Nations officials said suffering stemming from Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip is being compounded by shortages of food, medical supplies, and other basic needs.
Video: Israel Says Gaza Assault 'war to the Bitter End' AssociatedPress
Israel expands Gaza campaign Reuters UK