Source: CNN.comMilitants fire rockets into Israel after cease-fire
updated 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Militants fired six rockets into southern Israel and exchanged gunfire with troops in northern Gaza Sunday, hours after Israel declared a unilateral cease-fire in the Palestinian territory, an Israeli spokesman said. The Qassam rockets were fired into Sderot at 9 a.m. -- seven hours after Israel's cease-fire went into effect. The rockets did not injure anyone, and Israeli aircrafts destroyed the rocket launcher soon afterward, an Israeli military spokesman said.
At 2 a.m. Sunday, Israel declared a cease-fire in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel was prepared to respond if Hamas militants continue fighting in Gaza. “If foes decide to continue to fight against us, then we will be ready and we shall consider ourselves justified in replying,” he said.
Hamas leaders responded, saying they did not consider Olmert's declaration a cease-fire as long as Israeli troops remain in the Palestinian territory. Islamic Jihad, an extremist group operating in Gaza and listed as a terrorist organization by several governments, said the cease-fire was an Israeli decision that will not impact its actions.
This exposes the fraud that Hamas has perpetrated against the international community and its own people.
I'm sure the vaunted UN will be along any minute now to issue a condemnation of Hamas's actions.
Hamas has raised the diplomatic stakes in the Gaza Strip by announcing its own ceasefire today — hours after Israel called a "unilateral" halt to the fighting.
In a decision designed to throw the international focus back on Israel, the Islamists said that they would halt all rocket attacks on the country for a week, but that the attacks would resume if Israel failed to pull its troops out of the territory during that time.
In Cairo, where international talks on a truce deal are continuing, a Hamas official was quoted as saying that the ceasefire also hinged on Israel's decision to open all of Gaza's blockaded border crossings to allow in food and other goods.
“Hamas and the factions announce a ceasefire in Gaza starting immediately and give Israel a week to withdraw,” Ayman Taha, a Hamas official, said.
Time for Israel to take off the gloves and do everything it can to destroy Hamas. Sorry for the civilians, but anyone who can't see that Hamas is to blame for this simply has no sense of perspective or justice.
Ooh, wait a second Tash. I just found this.
Hamas announces ceasefire and gives Israel one week to leave Gaza - Times Online
So Israel has 1 week of peace from rockets apparentley and to leave Gaza before rockets get sent out.
Thanks Laila.Ooh, wait a second Tash. I just found this.
Hamas announces ceasefire and gives Israel one week to leave Gaza - Times Online
So Israel has 1 week of peace from rockets apparentley and to leave Gaza before rockets get sent out.
Do you suppose that if Israel obeys this ultimatum, Hamas will not fire rockets any longer?
I don't know.
I think Hamas has achieved the goals it wanted in this conflict tbh, it has made Israel come off as bad. Hence why it said 'In a decision designed to throw the international focus back on Israel, the Islamists said that they would halt all rocket attacks on the country'
Thanks Laila.
With its unilateral ceasefire early this morning, Israel forced Hamas to either respond in-kind, or take a PR beating. It's a chess game of brinksmanship.
This raises the questions....
What happens after one week? Does the ceasefire endure? Will Hamas fire more missiles after the IDF withdraws? Will Israel open the border crossings she controls? Will Hamas continue to smuggle weapons into Gaza? Who will monitor compliance? What if Joe Schmoe fires a mortar or rocket? Will this lead to further talks? Will Hamas release kidnapped IDF Cpl. Shalit?
Many questions. Few answers at this point.
Thanks Laila.
With its unilateral ceasefire early this morning, Israel forced Hamas to either respond in-kind, or take a PR beating. It's a chess game of brinksmanship.
This raises the questions....
What happens after one week? Does the ceasefire endure? Will Hamas fire more missiles after the IDF withdraws? Will Israel open the border crossings she controls? Will Hamas continue to smuggle weapons into Gaza? Who will monitor compliance? What if Joe Schmoe fires a mortar or rocket? Will this lead to further talks? Will Hamas release kidnapped IDF Cpl. Shalit?
Many questions. Few answers at this point.
The rest of us saw israels right to defend herself.
Every country has the right to defend itself but likewise it does not have the right nor should be supported if it leads to huge bloodshed.
If UK started bombarding Ireland and killed 1,000 irish people. I highly doubt people would be singing our praise and same for any other country in the world. Israel is no different
Well of course a nation has the right to defend itself but Israel took it way too far, it was bad enough with the air campaign but then invading the most heavily populated area knowing that high civilian casulties was inevitable?
It seemed pretty stupid to drop leaflets, i mean honestley. Where are you supposed to run to? Gaza was locked in and Soldiers was in almost every direction
Okay, so how far is too far? How would you feel if the situation was reversed?
Here is something that most Westerners do not quite grasp. War in the ME is not equitable to what those in the West understand as war. Never has been. No quarter is asked and none is given. Over 1,000,000 deaths and casualties in the Iraq/Iran war. 20,000 civilians killed in a Syrian city attacked by the Syrian military. The religious inspired civil wars wars in Lebanon. What Iraqi forces did in Kuwait City, the extremely bloody pre-partition violence between Arabs and Jews in the British Mandate of Palestine, etc. etc.If UK started bombarding Ireland and killed 1,000 irish people. I highly doubt people would be singing our praise and same for any other country in the world. Israel is no different
I know people keep banging on about proportionality but that is what worried me. It seems to me Israel went ape**** and started collective punishment.
If it was me being rained down with rockets? I don't know but i hope i would stick with my view that the answer to this conflict will not come out of military power.
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