Middle East ceasefire hopes crumble as violence resumes
Thursday, 13 Mar 2008 09:02
Violence in the Gaza Strip could be restarting
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Just as they did in southern Lebanon in the summer of 2006, the Israeli army is dominating headlines by pursuing military action against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Full Story
Prospects for an enduring ceasefire between
Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in the
Gaza Strip dimmed amid renewed violence yesterday.
Four Palestinians were killed when Israeli troops opened fire on a vehicle in Gaza, prompting a barrage of shells from a group called Islamic Jihad.
The organisation lost its leader, Mohammad Shehadeh, and two others in the attack. A prominent figure of another group, Ahmed Balbul of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, was also killed in the attack.
No one was harmed by Islamic Jihad's shell-fire, but it is threatening to continue its attacks and undermine hopes of a ceasefire.
"This new crime reflects the true face of the occupation," its leader Nafez Azzam said afterwards.
"Killing still continues while they are talking about the possibility of bringing calm, but if they think that calm means Palestinian surrender, they are mistaken."
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh had been pressing for a ceasefire which demands an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza and an end to its punishing blockade of the isolated territory.
With over 120 dead after the recent incursions into the Gaza Strip, Mr Haniyeh's stance may indicate the thirst for further rocket attacks is finally diminishing.
With groups like Islamic Jihad continuing to threaten violence, however, analysts say the desired halt to killing may not be achieved.