WEST BANK: President Mahmoud Abbas addresses Palestinians for Fatah anniversary; Fatah supporters protest Israel attacks on Gaza strip

Record ID: 561410

  • Title: WEST BANK: President Mahmoud Abbas addresses Palestinians for Fatah anniversary; Fatah supporters protest Israel attacks on Gaza strip
  • Date: 1st January 2009
  • Summary: NABLUS, WEST BANK (DECEMBER 31, 2008) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS CARRYING PALESTINIAN AND FATAH FLAGS MARCHING THE STREET OF NABLUS TO PROTEST ISRAEL'S ATTACK ON GAZA
  • Embargoed: 16th January 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEHGVO5ZZDSDBGSYU5YNDNWFRN
  • Story Text: Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas condemn the Israel attacks on Gaza strip, in annual television speech to Palestinian nation.
    Abbas called for an immediate and unconditional halt to Israeli strikes on Gaza and held Israel fully responsible for the crimes committed there.
    "This aggression must be stopped immediately and without any conditions".
    He added, "The Israeli government is held fully responsible for the horrible crimes which it has committed and is still committing."
    Abbas described the strikes on gaza as the "bloodiest massacre in gaza" and the "most ugly, the bloodiest, and the cruellest."
    He called on the international community to intervene to stop the attacks on gaza Strip and to provide international protection.
    Fatah supporters stage demonstration in Nablus city of West bank in solidarity with the people of Gaza. Demonstrators carried signs calling for the end of the attack.
    France had proposed a 48-hour truce that would allow in more humanitarian aid for Gaza's 1.5 million residents. Olmert made the remarks -- which did not rule out a ceasefire in the future -- to his security cabinet, which had rebuffed the plan.
    Hamas said it was prepared to study proposals for a ceasefire.
    Israel on Wednesday said the time was not right for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and stepped up preparations for a possible ground offensive after Hamas's long-range rockets hit another major population centre.
    Palestinian president called called on Hamas to return to the truce and to national dialogue..
    Palestinian medical officials revised the number of wounded to 1,650 after figures arrived from medical centres that had not reported their casualty statistics earlier. Three Israeli civilians and a soldier have been killed by rockets.
    Along the heavily-fortified border fence, Israeli tank crews prepared for battle while Islamist militants, hiding as little as a few hundred yards (meters) away, laid land mines and other booby traps should a ground war break out.
    Foreign powers have increased pressure on both sides to halt hostilities, but public anger in Israel over the widening of the rocket attacks to include Beersheba, 40 km (24 miles) from Gaza, could prompt the government to hit Hamas even harder.
    Israeli officials said they were open to amendments to the French proposal and alternatives being put forward by international parties.
    Cabinet ministers, however, approved the mobilisation of 2,500 army reservists, expanding on an earlier call-up of 6,500 soldiers for the garrison on the Gaza border, officials said.
    Hamas said on Wednesday it was prepared to study proposals for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that would require Israel to halt attacks and lift "entirely" its blockade of the Gaza Strip.
    The current violence erupted after a six-month ceasefire brokered by Egypt expired on Dec. 19 and Hamas intensified rocket attacks from the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip.
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