GAZA/ISRAEL: Israel rejects Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's call for ceasefire as attacks in Gaza continue

Record ID: 341324

  • Title: GAZA/ISRAEL: Israel rejects Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's call for ceasefire as attacks in Gaza continue
  • Date: 9th July 2006
  • Summary: (W4) GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP (JULY 8, 2006) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MUSHIR AL-MASRI, HAMAS SPOKESMAN, SAYING: "We believe that was a clear message to our Palestinian people that the enemy only uses the language of terrorism and aggression. This is the only language the zionist occupation is using against our people and we leave all the options open for Palestinian res
  • Embargoed: 24th July 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVAD8R9OKXRRQ8FUZB5XHUF588VG
  • Story Text: Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas called for a ceasefire with Israel on Saturday (July 8), after 11 days of fierce Gaza fighting, but Israel said militants must first release a captured soldier and halt rocket attacks.
    The call was followed by rapid-fire air strikes against Palestinian militants across Gaza.
    "Today I have launched an initiative out of appreciation for the higher interests of the Palestinian people, and out of interest of the Palestinian government to stop the Israeli aggression and to afford protection for the Palestinian people. The initiatives are composed of five items. First, the return to calm by the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all of Gaza Strip and the stopping of all forms of Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people. I stressed the necessity of stopping the campaign of arrests, assassinations and incursions," Haniyeh told Reuters after touring an area of Gaza which was raided by Israeli forces
    Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said there was a clear way to end the Gaza incursion.
    "Hamas is responsible for the current escalation and they know how to end it. They have to release our serviceman immediately and unconditionally and they have to stop targeting Israeli cities with their terrorist rockets. If they do that there will be a ceasefire," Regev said, referring in part to Israeli Army Corporal Gilad Shalit, who was abducted by Hamas and other Gaza militants almost two weeks ago.
    An Israeli offensive in Gaza has killed about 45 Palestinians, drawing international criticism. Israeli airstrikes on militants on Friday killed six Palestinians, including a woman and her two children, one a six-year-old girl.
    Hamas Legislative Council member, and Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri said Palestinians should to resist the Israeli military action.
    "We believe that was a clear message to our Palestinian people that the enemy only uses the language of terrorism and aggression," al-Masri told Reuters.
    At least three air strikes occurred shortly after midnight on Sunday in the region (2100 GMT).
    One missile strike hit a suspected militant training camp in Khan Younis. There were no reports of injuries.
    At least three militants were injured in an air strike in Gaza City, Palestinian medics and police said.
    Israel also bombed a key bridge in northern Gaza, despite an appeal from the United Nations to stop targeting the strip's fragile infrastructure.
    The army said the goal was to prevent militants from transporting rockets to launch sites.
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