Saturday, January 17, 2009

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

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Friday, January 16, 2009

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

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