World

Israel declares unilateral Gaza truce

by tikun | January 17, 2009 at 01:36 pm

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National Security Cabinet votes in favor of unilateral ceasefire in Gaza, to take effect early Sunday; Olmert says Hamas hit hard, operation's objectives fully met. IDF troops to remain in Strip for time being

Roni Sofer

Latest Update: 01.17.09, 23:22 / Israel News
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After 21 days, Israel declares end to fighting: The National Security Cabinet voted Saturday evening to end the military operation in the Gaza Strip. Seven ministers supported the decision, two others objected, and one abstained.

In a statement following the vote, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel fully achieved the operation's objectives, adding that the IDF will end its military operations at 2 am Sunday.

The prime minister noted that Hamas sustained hard blows during the operation, adding that the group is an offshoot of Iran.

Gaza Op
European leaders to help stop Gaza smuggling / Roni Sofer
Heads of France, Germany, Italy and UK send letter to Olmert, expressing willingness to offer naval resources to help stop arms trafficking into Gaza. Also say will provide aid to Gaza, willing to monitor crossings Full Story

"Iran, with its weapons smuggling, attempted to do with Hamas what it did with Hizbullah in Lebanon," he said. "This is not a ceasefire with Hamas. These are understanding with elements in the international community which Hamas, as an illegitimate entity, has no place to be involved in."

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con10t

at 13:56 on January 17th, 2009

The term 'unilateral truce' is word play and actually nonsense. The term truce requires two parties to be a truce. Imagine a peace treaty signed by one party. The Isreali military is only hoping that members of Hamas reveal their locations when they emerge to care for its citizens in Gaza. This is clear as Israel leaves its surveillance units in place and its soldiers are still taking aim awaiting a chance to fire and be perceived as reacting. It's like a shooting game at a country fair, only the targets in the sights are real children. Israel is a nation of child murderers, and war criminals creeping quickly up the ladder to number two in that demonic domain.

When the west institutionalizes and turns a blind eye to war criminals like the current state of Isreal, where does the world end up?

tikun

at 14:02 on January 17th, 2009

Yawn.

158

at 15:48 on January 17th, 2009

Hamas foreign minister "Jewish children are legitimate targets. We will kill them anywhere in the world." --al Jazeera

Amy Judd

at 15:49 on January 17th, 2009

Woah - do you have a link for that? I'd like to read the rest of the article.

158

at 17:50 on January 17th, 2009

ting intensified on the northern outskirts of Gaza City yesterday as a Hamas leader warne

that the Islamists would kill Jewish children anywhere in the world in revenge for

Israel’s devastating assault.

“They have legitimised the murder of their own children by killing the children of Palestine,” Mahmoud Zahar said in a televised broadcast recorded at a secret location. “They have legitimised the killing of their people all over the world by killing our people.”

Mr Zahar made his first appearance since Israel launched its offensive. Dressed in a dark suit, he declared: “Victory is coming, God willing.”

Source: timesonline.co.uk

Amy Judd

at 17:53 on January 17th, 2009

Thanks - you might want to edit your previous comment then as I was looking for an Al Jazeera quote.

158

at 17:55 on January 17th, 2009

I tried the system will not let me.

Amy Judd

at 17:33 on January 17th, 2009

I'm sorry I can't find any source for this quote and I searched Google News.

Amy Judd

at 17:35 on January 17th, 2009

Oh I see, it's not a direct quote - article. My bad; I thought it was a direct quote.

Amy Judd

at 14:06 on January 17th, 2009

However Hamas has said that it reserves the right to continue resisting Israel if Israel does not withdraw from Gaza.

tikun

at 14:11 on January 17th, 2009

This truce was on behalf of the international efforts to get Hamas to as they say on the street, "give it up". The only thing Hamas has done is use the poor people of Gaza for their exploits on behalf of Iran. No country in this part of town wants them in Gaza including many of people living there. They are still firing rockets and if they continue Israel will silence them for good.