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A Palestinian girl reading pro-Hamas graffiti reading 'Gaza is cleared up' on a wall in northern Gaza on Thursday. (AP)
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Last update - 17:51 08/12/2007
Report: Hamas wants cease-fire with Israel in the Gaza Strip
By Haaretz Service and DPA
Tags: Hamas, Gaza, ceasefire 

Hamas is making efforts to reach a ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip, London-based newspaper Al-Quds al-Arabi reported Saturday.

According to the report, senior Hamas officials are attempting to dissuade militants from firing Qassam rockets and mortar shells from the Strip into southern Israel in efforts to prevent a large-scale Israel Defense Forces ground operation in the Hamas-ruled territory.

Israel Radio reported Saturday that Damascus-based Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal had met with the head of the Islamic Jihad in Lebanon to discuss the issue. Islamic Jihad sources told the Al-Quds al-Arabi that the group had agreed to Hamas' proposal, but only if Israel agrees to a mutual ceasefire.
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The newspaper also reported that Egyptian officials have offered to broker the deal between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.

The militant Islamist faction Hamas violently seized control over the Gaza Strip from the rival Fatah faction in June. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas consequently dismissed the Hamas-led cabinet and appointed a Fatah-backed administration in the West Bank.

Last month, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that the IDF is "getting closer to a large-scale operation in Gaza, and we're likely to stay there for a long time."

Meanwhile, the Hamas movement on Saturday asserted it would not hand over Gaza Strip ministries and security compounds in exchange for dialogue with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri was commenting on reports by local independent news agency Ma'an which said that Hamas had agreed to give up the Gaza facilities, including crossing points, to the Palestinian presidency.

"All the information in Ma'an's report are untrue and aim at creating more troubles," Abu Zuhri said. He added that his faction was interested in dialogue, but accused Abbas and Fatah of "blocking the talks by outlining unacceptable preconditions."

According to the report, Hamas has agreed to abandon control over civil ministries in Gaza, such as the health, planning and education ministries, and has told Arab mediators that the security facilities "will be left for Hamas and Fatah delegations when future talks are held."

The report added that Hamas leaders would gather in Saudi Arabia to discuss the new developments. The Kingdom, Qatar, Sudan and Yemen have asked Hamas to accept Abbas' conditions to dialogue "to serve the national interest."

Abbas has stated in the past that he would be willing to talk with Hamas only if the militant group cedes control over Gaza. Ma'an reported that Abbas called on Hamas to "retreat from the coup and its consequences, abide by the Palestinian Liberation Organization's (PLO) commitments and accept early elections."

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  • Defense Minister Barak says long-term Gaza invasion is approaching
  • IDF chief: Ground offensive only way to halt Qassam rocket fire
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      1.   The New Rockets & Their Launchers.! 12:07  |  Stephen. 08/12/07
      2.   Simple: if the Qassams stop so will the Israeli strikes 13:14  |  Conroy 08/12/07
      3.   Weak and Pathetic Thugs will Feels The Almighty`s wrath 13:15  |  Rabbi Izzy Lahm 08/12/07
      4.   Rabbi Lahm why are you writing on Shabbos?Go to Shul. 13:49  |  Alan 08/12/07
      5.   Al Quds Al Arabi good for Deir El Bala Vs Zeitun Football score 13:53  |  Alan 08/12/07
      6.   # 3. Not the Rabbi you want to cross. 14:09  |  Stephen 08/12/07
      7.   They are seriouse 14:10  |  Cheops 08/12/07
      8.   Typical Camel and Mouse Game 14:26  |  Chaim Gorenstein 08/12/07
      9.   Makeup your mind 15:17  |  Baz Mann 08/12/07
      10.   Time Out? 15:25  |  juniper 08/12/07
      11.   Gee,rabbi(3)you are scary aren`t you?Try out the costumes at 15:39  |  lakshmi 08/12/07
      12.   # 8 Lets all rejoice for great victory. 15:43  |  Stephen. 08/12/07
      13.   # 7. Cry babies or crocodile tears? 16:00  |  Stephen. 08/12/07
      14.   So Let Hamas Take Responsibility and Enforce It 16:09  |  Tzfonit 08/12/07
      15.   Israel Ceases, Hamas Fires 16:14  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 08/12/07
      16.   Hamas has now come crawling to Israel 16:20  |  Conroy 08/12/07
      17.   Izzy Lahm # 3_ You Must Be a Christian Evangelical 17:54  |  Eli 08/12/07
      18.   THE CHARADE CONTINUES 17:56  |  * BEN JABO 08/12/07
      19.   RELEASE GILAD NOW 17:56  |  . 08/12/07
      20.   #4 Alan - Rabbi finished davening 17:58  |  * BEN JABO 08/12/07
      21.   Hamas` offer. 18:01  |  sandra chitayat 08/12/07
      22.   Post #3 - A creature of the DEVIL 18:03  |  DoubleClick 08/12/07
      23.   #9 Baz Mann You are a big hero, no? 18:15  |  Don Saliman 08/12/07
      24.   CRAZY RABBI #3 = LOLZ at your religious BS. 18:19  |  POP 08/12/07
      25.   #3 Rabbi Izzy Lahm 18:19  |  Jim 08/12/07
      26.   Hamas begs for ceasefire when a loss in imminent 18:32  |  Richard S 08/12/07
      27.   lakshemi 18:33  |  The Prophet 08/12/07
      28.   Rabbi Izzy Lahm 19:15  |  Espart 08/12/07
      29.   no cease fire 19:18  |  vik 08/12/07
      30.   #8 Chaim Gorenstein 19:39  |  Jim 08/12/07
      31.   you people do not understand palestinians 19:41  |  Anwar 08/12/07
      32.   #16 Conroy 19:53  |  Jim 08/12/07
      33.   #18 The charade contiues 20:04  |  Jim 08/12/07
      34.   Hamas must release Shalit , 20:10  |  Joseph E . 08/12/07
      35.   Now that the circus has folded it`s tent 20:15  |  Mark Lincoln 08/12/07
      36.   #23 Richard S. 20:17  |  Jim 08/12/07
      37.   #15 Margie in Tel Aviv 20:29  |  Jim 08/12/07
      38.   Ceasefire "when they are cornered and no place to 20:42  |  cristo 08/12/07
      39.   Ben Jabo # 18 20:44  |  Philippe 08/12/07
      40.   How does Hamas refer to Israel... 20:45  |  Avrum 08/12/07
      41.   Alan # 4 20:47  |  Philippe 08/12/07
      42.   cease fire???? 20:49  |  Dan in the lions den 08/12/07
      43.   #3 Rabbi Islam - I love it. Lay off the guy. 21:09  |  Easy Lahm 08/12/07
      44.   The Fall of the House of Usher? 21:12  |  Yonatan 08/12/07
      45.   hamas is a snake 21:32  |  Isca 08/12/07
      46.   hamas wants ceasefire 21:33  |  marcel 08/12/07
      47.   Hamas asking Israel 21:34  |  KUTW 08/12/07
      48.   Israel: Turn up the heat! get Shalit back now! 21:35  |  hebro 08/12/07
      49.   LAKSHMI AND THE RABBI 21:37  |  Brant 08/12/07
      50.   Have they released Shalit? 21:37  |  KUTW 08/12/07
      51.   Gilad Shalit 21:39  |  peter 08/12/07
      52.   they only do it when sense defeat 22:04  |  Vorax 08/12/07
      53.   14 Tzfonit - You`re Right, Cajoling Won`t Work 22:08  |  Mark of Lewiston 08/12/07
      54.   Pathetic Hamas 22:09  |  Edifice 08/12/07
      55.   Hamas Cease-fire? 22:18  |  Gary 08/12/07
      56.   More of that Hudna crap? 22:23  |  Awake 08/12/07
      57.   SMASH THESE LIARS AND THUGS 22:44  |  GZLives 08/12/07
      58.   Conroy #2 you are totally right, but they are muslim arabs 22:47  |  Johnny 08/12/07
      59.   Rabbi Izzy Lahm #3, Amen! 22:48  |  Johnny 08/12/07
      60.   ?? #21 Chitayat 23:06  |  dj 08/12/07
      61.   Israel needs a villain more than Israel needs peace 23:18  |  Natallie Durson 08/12/07
      62.   It`s Worth A Try 23:26  |  Jeff Northridge 08/12/07
      63.   This report is not quite accurate,Hamas has not agreed to hand 23:27  |  lakshmi 08/12/07
      64.   Free Schalit first, then talk, not before. 00:18  |  David 09/12/07
      65.   uncompromising liar Margie ex SA 00:19  |  Labhras 09/12/07
      66.   Kassam Kriminals Kringe and Kry - Lebanon has shown the way! 00:20  |  Dr. L. Brnd 09/12/07
      67.   LAKSHMI can we also claim slow Genocide 00:43  |  Gil 09/12/07
      68.   Hamas is out of the loop so theyre sucking up to Abbas and Israel 01:32  |  Conroy 09/12/07
      69.   Don`t believe those liars 01:53  |  Nechama 09/12/07
      70.   To Labhras (#43) 02:11  |  Morris Valentine 09/12/07
      71.   Keep up the pressure, IT WORKS 02:31  |  TOMY 09/12/07
      72.   Have they run out of fuel for rockets??? 03:00  |  Free Gilad Shalit 09/12/07
      73.   irish rubbernecker reveling in ignorance 03:47  |  peter 09/12/07
      74.   Hamas` wishing for a ceasrfire is a very good reason for none! 03:49  |  Murray of Montreal 09/12/07
      75.   #15 Margie seems to forget her history 14:34  |  Johnboy 09/12/07
      76.   #62 One of your more sensible posts, Jeff 14:42  |  Johnboy 09/12/07
      77.   #75 Johnbory - Forget`s the facts 18:44  |  * BEN JABO 09/12/07
      78.   Anwar "you people do not understand palestinians" 19:00  |  Gary 09/12/07
      79.   To Johnboy (#75) 19:05  |  Morris Valentine 09/12/07
      80.   Jabo jabber 07:09  |  BBSNews 10/12/07
      81.   #80 BBS (bs) 18:24  |  * BEN JABO 10/12/07
      82.   Jabo jabber on beach killings 00:04  |  BBSNews 11/12/07
      83.   BBS (the usual BS) 18:55  |  * BEN JABO 11/12/07
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