Hamas urges Gaza militant groups to stop attacks on Israel
Hamas official says organization began talks with other militant factions in order to 'control the situation on the ground', signaling Hamas hopes to avert any large-scale IDF operation in Gaza.
By Reuters Tags: Israel news Hamas GazaHamas said on Sunday it has begun talks with other militant factions in the Gaza Strip to urge them to stop firing rockets at Israel, attacks that have raised Palestinian fears of a new Israeli offensive.
The talks are a signal that Hamas hopes to avert any large-scale Israel Defense Forces operation in the enclave similar to a three-week campaign that ended in January 2009 and in which 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed.
"We began contacts with factions over the situation in the field. Hamas seeks to control the situation on the ground and urge factions to recommit to the national agreement," Hamas official Ayman Taha said.
He was referring to an understanding that Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, said it reached with militant factions two years ago to halt rocket and mortar bomb fire.
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Masked Palestinian militants in Gaza prepare to fire rockets into Israel. |
| Photo by: AP |
In recent weeks, Palestinian militants have stepped up attacks along the Gaza border, answered by Israeli strikes that killed 13 Palestinians, most of them gunmen, in December.
Israel has said Hamas has largely held its fire over the past two years but the surge in rocket attacks meant it was not doing enough to curb other groups, which say their strikes are in retaliation for Israeli raids in Gaza and the West Bank.
Several Hamas leaders have said a new Gaza war would inflict heavy casualties on Israel, but they also have spoken of a willingness for a reciprocal truce to facilitate the rebuilding of homes and infrastructure destroyed in the 2009 conflict.
The Hamas Islamist group is shunned by the West over its refusal to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept existing interim Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements.
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Prime Minister Netanyahu says over and over again Israel wants negotiations without preconditions. Expanding settlements on the very land that is the subject of negotiations is a precondition. Demanding Hamas recognize Israel before negotiations can begin is a precondition. Hamas knows Israel exists. For the love of Peace, just sit down and talk and stop setting preconditions.
1400 dead Gazans and 13 Israelis are what Hamas calls a victory.
... if simultaneously there existed a real peace process with the West Bank. Lacking that, this is simply a temporary lull in the fighting. It is ironic that Israel seems as uninterested in peace with Fatah as Hamas is with Israel, is it not?
Israel is only defending itself from terrorist attacks. All these pro-arab (pro-terrorist) persons here should know that Israel did nothing wrong! If someone attacks Israel they should and will pay a big price for doing so. Just stop with all this BS aboute settlers, warcrimes and this so called palestinians rights!
It is hard to guess why Hamas is suddenly getting religion. Maybe someone has advised them to shape up or they will stop getting funding. Arab, Jewish or American or whatever: money is the universal language.
This article is obviously - incorrect. It ought to be very obvious that "Hamas" is the instigator of all of these attacks and must be immediately be answered with an overwhelming artillery response - irrespective of the casulties to the other side. As I have said before - THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT THESE TERRORISTS UNDERSTAND, and anything short of this is playing into their hands. - Please "wake up" and do not be irresponsible. John Whyte.
Hamas only wants the rockets to stop to rearm, re tool its foreign policy (in light of the recent UN / Fatah drives to recognize the state) and rebuild. This has little to do with peace. Politics at its best.
Hamas refuses to recognize Israel because Israel refuses to recognize Palestine. If Israel were to recognize Palestine as a sovereign country, the number of attacks on it's borders would decrease drastically. But it has to hurry, since the newer generations of Palestine are becoming more and more extreme, partially because of frustration with the peace process but mostly because of the brutality of some of the Israeli soldiers and settlers. Most Palestinians have not even seen an Israeli out of uniform.
What planet are you from
The Pals and Israelis have to reach a mutual agreement regarding the borders and Jerusalem. Whatever you and I may think maybe very different than so many others think. Unfortunately, this issues can't be decided by a simple vote.
They are demanding what they have refused to do so long... Hamas is the worst regime any one can live under. Where religious fanatics are, there are terrorism and troubles...
as much as I despise groups such as hamas,the issue in this specific conflict is that palestinians had no other way to defend themselves. as a consequence, people tend to agree with that line of defense as there are no otehr options. if the international community had reinforced the law, hamas would not be today an existing problem.
Exuse me SIR! Hamas was the democratic elected goverment? forgot about that?? What israel and USA did? put it in the corner! Let say it this way You corner a dog? the dog will attack!! Eccept the democratic election that was oversee by international people and thing will be change. I fault israel on all that is happening in Palestine!
When you are not responsible for anything.
Darkness descends on the light unto nations in the form of a bird of peace---so guess what Israel does to respond---of course---trys desperately to drive this bird of prey away . we have seen this in action for decades but it dont woek anymore---Hamas has copped on and now the resistance fighters are coming on board. This will compleetly taz the zionist mind---having no enemy but a genuine partner in peace. Woe is the zionist cause.
The Jews are NOT the chosen ones, God is the chosen one. Chosen by the Jews, where upon God decided to accept that honour and sign a deal with those that were as wise as to choose Him. There is a crucial difference in meaning in that compared with the myth that the Jews were chosen and unless one contemplates hard on the true significance of this, one will never understand what the core of Judaism is about. As far as the subject of the article is concerned: it seems to me that Hamas has learned to play good cop / bad cop. Is that what you are saying in your rather 'Klingonian' kind of language?
"The IDF assesses that Hamas is not interested in a full-scale escalation, but that the movement's echelon has grown into unprecedented despair regarding the lack of progress in prisoner swap negotiations with Israel and with the stalled reconciliation talks with the rival Fatah faction." - Haaretz// What a nice self-serving theory, but clearly nonsensical. Hamas were in more desperate situations than today's. Right now, Israel is increasing the number of items allowed into Gaza, and there is talk (or even some action) about allowing some exports from Gaza. So the situation in Gaza is actually improving and there is no reason for despair. I think Hamas is simply acting CLEVERLY. The peace negotiations between Abbas and Israel have lead no where, as Hamas has predicted all along and every Palestinian knows that. What Hamas had claimed since its inception was that the only way to extract anything from Israel was by force. And now they are using FORCE, but only in a measured way, they allow the smaller terror group to fire, but just enough not to provoke Israel to a major action in Gaza. This is a demo for the Palestinians, telling them: Just watch us and watch Abbas: He leads you nowhere and we are the ones carrying out the struggle. I think this is a great political message from Hamas' point of view, and they will reap the benefits if/when Palestinians in the West Bank have to do some voting or express preferences.
What planet do you live on? What drug are you on? Gaza is ruled by what you call terrorist thugs, strangled by Israel and the world, and threatened with Cast Lead II, the Palestinians are divided , manipulated and built upon, and there is no reason to despair?
It is an attempt at survival. No one wants to deal with them except Hezbollah and their backers at the moment.
Reading your comments I can only thin k of a quote by Confusious. " It is better to keep silent and be thaught of as a fool, then to open ones mouth and remove all doubt. "
living in the palestinian authority is by far better yhen living under hamas. hammas brought strugle but the people in Gazza are hungry and want a normal life, food ,well being.and freedom to dance in weddings to sing in aload voicw,just freedom
Hamas is NEVER to be trusted as they dont [in the first place ] recognise Israel. Any negotiations hamas wants with Israel they {1} should release the young lad Gilad who they "CLAIM" is alive .
what about israel release 10,000 plus innocent children woman and old people?? Gilad was a soldier he knew the danger! But when IDF destroy your home in the middle of the night and take your son 10? last time was a 5 years old!! would you stay still????? Illegal settleman comdemn by the all world keep going on, occupation comdemn by the all world still is happening!! Israel is not ABOVE THE LAW!!
Begin the countdown to the next war. Good going, Netanyahu.
The only thing restraining the terrorists is the IDF. The only language they understand is force. It is time for Israel to end its policy of restraint before more Israelis are injured or killed.
Are you joking? The IDF are simply better armed and better at terror than the terrorists. Is one Arab life worth less than an Israeli life? Who then pulls the strings of terror when the IDF have killed more Arab children that the militants have in total over the last ten years. Hamas comes out, with a statement that is positive for peace and you call for a lack of restraint. Shame on you.
Wake up, Hamas doesn't want peace or end to hostilities. They want controlled attacks, they are afraid if their comrades in arms go to far, Israel will retaleate, and this time might not stop till Hamas is destroyed and Gaza is back in Israeli hands. Hamas has one major concern, its selfpresevation
What illegal settlement in Gaza, Israel left Gaza in 2005
Only this will bring peace and freedome to all people! Im not sure about the best way to do this. But one thing that comes to mind is Cast Lead II
What are you afraid of ? that Hamas accepts a truce ? Hamas and all factions have already accepted lon term truce in the past. Don't you remember ? Israel broke so many. What's the point ? that means Israel is not interested in any quiet period nor in peace. Provoking an escalation is Israel's best policy. Gaza and its 1500 people assassinated is the perfect example. You'te too blind to see.....and certainly too arrogant to admit that.
Only clearing the settlers out will bring freedom
Didn't Israel do that though in Gaza. And, hey presto, Hamas obtained power in the strip right after that. The settlements, however much I am against them, are now merely a smokescreen used to mask the unwillingness (or inability due to internal factors if you wish) of the PA as well as Hamas to negotiate with Israel. Freedom, my dear "American" is a hollow term. Best left in the US, I reckon. We've got more pressing problems than to use words like that. And, Sam, Hamas accepted a truce? You're joking right? Goodness, it's like the world upside down.
All the settlers are out of Gaza...they left years ago...the result is rockets into Israeli cities, hitting kindergardens. They are still trying to kidnap Israeli citizens...for what purpose?
20 years of blockade, an Israeli-backed attempted coup of their elected government, and repeated invasions. Yep, sounds like you "left" years ago to me.
Truce? The hamas doesnt even recognise Israels right to exist! I am not afraid, but I can see the reality! Unlike from you and your kind.
Yours is a history of massacre against the native american indians and followed by the Mexicans of California and Texas.
So it appears Hamas is looking to maintain quiet and adhere to the truce. They recognize Israels existance and when they reconcile with Fatah they will have to accept the interim agreements - not that Israel does... So no more shunning of Hamas! Cool. Another peace partner.
Who told you that "HAMAS recognize Israels existence". HAMAS doesn't tell this. This statement is your own invention.
This Olive Branch was rejected and Tony Blair "Peace Envoy" helped bury that news. Strange thing propaganda...
Ahhh, no, they recognize Israel exists and are willing to abide by a truce, they just disagree that it should exist.
Ismail Haniyeh, has said that Hamas would recognize a Palestinian state based on the 1967 lines. Verbatim the quote is: "We accept a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the resolution of the issue of refugees." Israel is on the other side of the border so he recognizes it.
Hey Boys!!! ( wink...wink) don't fire across the border!!!
They both have the problem of wanting a splendid little war yet they both want the other to take the blame. The tactics each have adopted are similar. They make Peace Noises while goading the other to start the war.
They both have the problem of wanting a splendid little war yet they both want the other to take the blame.,isn't it ,oh Wizard from Texas ?
but Abbas is much better isnt he? He tells the Israeli public he's looking for peace and that palestinians will never resort to violence again, but the next day he goes to the arab league and tells the members the Palestinians would support a war with Israel, thats nothing right?
Why not make the west bank a binational state?
... the Israelis are there as illegal occupiers, not citizens. If the West Bank is fully returned to the Palestinians, then those Israelis should be allowed to apply to trade their Israeli citizenship for Palestinian.
Barak will soon be gone. With him, will go any restraint on a proper response to the terrorits of Gaza. Hamas can then discuss what to do with the dust bowl they are responsible for creating
And your government can discuss what they will do with the missiles from Hamas, Hezbollah and the overturn of Jordan and Egyptian governments by radicals. The consequences of a repeat of Cast Lead will lead Israel to situation that is out it's control.