Hamas Truce 'Not Serious': Israel

Progress toward ceasefire after behind-the-scenes talks

(NEWSER) - Egypt is quietly working to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, with its intelligence chief meeting with both Hamas and Israeli officials, allowing the two sides to formally deny that they are talking to each other, the Guardian reports. Israel is calling for a trial 30 days of calm before entering into a ceasefire, according to Egyptian sources. Israelis want rocket attacks from Gaza to stop, and arms smuggling from Egypt into Gaza to be halted. More»

(NEWSER) - Israel dropped leaflets on the Gaza strip today warning inhabitants of an escalation in the 2-week offensive against Hamas militants, the BBC reports. The leaflets assured civilians that the action was against “Hamas and the terrorists only” and urged people to stay away from military targets. The development could signal a deeper incursion by Israeli ground forces into Gazan cities and refugee camps, the BBC notes. More»

Egypt begins stopping Palestinians from entering

(NEWSER) - As Gaza air strikes raged on for a second day, Israel said it bombed more than 40 Palestinian supply tunnels used to transport weapons, BBC reports. Palestine said one tunnel intended to carry fuel from Egypt to Gaza had been destroyed. Fleeing the southern strip into Egypt, hundreds of Palestinians were forced back by Egyptian security forces who opened fire. More»

Ends 11 day supply grab under Israel's blockade

(NEWSER) - After 11 days, Egypt has sealed the gap in its border with the Gaza Strip, ending the stream of Palestinians in search of food and supplies, Reuters reports. Hundreds of Egyptian security officers used barbed wire and metal barriers to seal the last gaps in the wall. Hamas militants told Palestinians in the area to go home. More»

Four-year-old blockade ends

(AP) - After a four-year blockade, Egypt today permanently opened the Gaza Strip's main gateway to the outside world, bringing long-awaited relief to the territory's Palestinian population and a significant achievement for the area's ruling Hamas militant group. The reopening of the Rafah border crossing eases an Egyptian blockade that has prevented the vast majority of Gaza's 1.5 million people from being able to travel abroad. The closure, along with an Israeli blockade of its borders with Gaza, has fueled an economic crisis in the densely populated territory. Egypt announced the decision Wednesday. More»