Related News
Hamas set to reject Egypt's Gaza proposal-sources
Source: Agencies |
January 13, 2009, Tuesday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
HAMAS is set to reject Egypt's proposals to end Israel's 17-day-old offensive in the Gaza Strip, Lebanese political sources close to the group said yesterday. The sources said Hamas negotiators who returned to Cairo last night after consulting their leaders in Damascus, would relay Hamas's negative response in talks today with Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.
One senior source said the group was opposed to three key elements in the proposal, worked on by Egypt and international diplomats in recent days.
"Hamas opposes a long-term truce -- the Egyptians speak of 15 years --, it is opposed to any ceasefire being set without it being accompanied by immediate pullout of Israeli troops from newly occupied positions in Gaza, and the presence of foreign observers on the Rafah crossing point," the source said.
The source said Hamas wanted any truce to be short and for a specific period of time and for Israeli troops to start pulling out at the same time any ceasefire goes into effect.
The group was open to discussing the mechanism of opening the Gaza border with Egypt at Rafah but was not ready to accept international observers there.
Israel launched its offensive on Dec. 27 with the declared aim of stopping Hamas firng rockets into southern Israeli towns and cities. Hamas says more than 900 people have been killed and 4,000 wounded in the war so far. Israel says 10 soldiers and three civilians have died in the conflict.
Israel, backed by its Western allies, says any ceasefire must depend on Hamas halting rocket fire on Israel and wants measures to stop Hamas rearming via tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border, in an area known as the Philadelphi corridor.
One senior source said the group was opposed to three key elements in the proposal, worked on by Egypt and international diplomats in recent days.
"Hamas opposes a long-term truce -- the Egyptians speak of 15 years --, it is opposed to any ceasefire being set without it being accompanied by immediate pullout of Israeli troops from newly occupied positions in Gaza, and the presence of foreign observers on the Rafah crossing point," the source said.
The source said Hamas wanted any truce to be short and for a specific period of time and for Israeli troops to start pulling out at the same time any ceasefire goes into effect.
The group was open to discussing the mechanism of opening the Gaza border with Egypt at Rafah but was not ready to accept international observers there.
Israel launched its offensive on Dec. 27 with the declared aim of stopping Hamas firng rockets into southern Israeli towns and cities. Hamas says more than 900 people have been killed and 4,000 wounded in the war so far. Israel says 10 soldiers and three civilians have died in the conflict.
Israel, backed by its Western allies, says any ceasefire must depend on Hamas halting rocket fire on Israel and wants measures to stop Hamas rearming via tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border, in an area known as the Philadelphi corridor.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
