Hamas calls for end to Gaza raids in terms for ceasefire
Wednesday, 12 Mar 2008 12:44
Hamas has called for an end to Israeli raids into the Gaza Strip
Hamas has publicly set out its terms for a ceasefire with
Israel.
The group today called for the borders to Gaza to be opened up and for an end to Israeli raids in Palestinian territory.
Talks involving Egypt between the two sides have been ongoing in an attempt to stop the recent violence in the
Gaza Strip.
"There must be a commitment by Israel to end all its aggression against our people, assassinations, killings and raids, and lift the [Gaza] siege and reopen the crossings," Hamas' Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh said.
Mr Haniyeh said that a ceasefire deal would apply to both the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and the
West Bank.
"We will not abandon you, our people in the West Bank," he said in a speech today.
"Aggression against you is aggression against us."
Mr Haniyeh made his demands in a speech a couple of hours after Israeli troops killed an Islamic Jihad militant in the West Bank.
Hamas claimed the move showed Israel was "not interested in calm".
Israel has yet to reply to Hamas' demands.