Hamas Leader Sets Terms for Ceasefire With Israel
By VOA News
12 March 2008
The leader of the Islamic militant group Hamas has laid out conditions for a ceasefire with Israel.
Ismail Haniyeh said in a speech Wednesday in the Gaza Strip that Israel must stop carrying out raids and assassinations in the territory. He also said Israel must reopen Gaza's borders, which have been sealed since Hamas seized control of Gaza in June.
Haniyeh said a ceasefire must be "reciprocal, simultaneous and comprehensive."
Israel had no immediate comment on Haniyeh's remarks.
Israel and Hamas have been adhering to an unofficial truce, following a recent Israeli military offensive in Gaza in which at least 120 Palestinians were killed. Israel launched the offensive in response to Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel.
Hamas' charter calls for the destruction of Israel. Israel, the United States and the European Union consider Hamas a terrorist group.
Early Wednesday, Israeli troops killed an Islamic Jihad militant in the West Bank.
Witnesses in the village of Saida said Saleh Karkur was killed in an exchange of gunfire with Israeli troops after they surrounded the house where he was staying. The troops demolished the house during the fight.
The Israeli military confirmed the incident and said troops shot the gunman after he opened fire at them during a raid to arrest militants.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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