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Hamas Agrees to Gaza Truce

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 12, 2009 9:20 PM CST

(Newser) – Hamas says its negotiators have a reached a deal with Israel for a long-term Gaza truce, Reuters reports. A senior leader said the truce ensures the opening of all commercial crossings and will be announced over the weekend. The Egyptian-brokered pact would replace a tentative truce put in place last month after a 22-day Israeli offensive left 1,300 Palestinians dead. Israel, in the midst of election chaos, had no official comment.

Palestinian workers sort flowers for export, in a greenhouse in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009.
Palestinian workers sort flowers for export, in a greenhouse in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009.   (AP Photo/Eyad Baba)
A Palestinian police officer looks through the rubble of a destroyed building after it was hit by an Israeli air strike overnight in southern Gaza Strip, Thursday.
A Palestinian police officer looks through the rubble of a destroyed building after it was hit by an Israeli air strike overnight in southern Gaza Strip, Thursday.   (AP Photo/Eyad Baba)
A Palestinian police officer looks through the rubble of a destroyed building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike overnight in the Gaza strip.
A Palestinian police officer looks through the rubble of a destroyed building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike overnight in the Gaza strip.   (AP Photo/Eyad Baba)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
riffran
Feb 14, 2009 3:06 AM CST
so I geuss we can all agree it's not Bush'es fault?.....lol...sorry I had to.....Thanks for the coherant and thoughtfull, non biased answer there..airron 14...shame we all can't be that civil..(myself included, I can be a butthead at times...lol...but I'll own up to it...:)...)
justme
Feb 13, 2009 8:19 PM CST
Granting much of what has been said, it is still a security issue for Israel who is trying to prevent as many rackets/ suicide bombers as possible from a population where a certain percentage still refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist at all. "Ancestral land" is an argument both sides can make depending on which century you choose.
Guest
Feb 13, 2009 5:57 AM CST
The conflict has certainly evolved over the years. Today, it really has more to do with land and standards of living than it has to do with faith. The current 'stranglehold' was put in place do to Hamas, a known terrorist organization, being elected and subsequently having to take control of Gaza through force. Of course you can hardly blame the Palestinians for electing Hamas. When a group of people are struggling and unhappy with their current situation, it is natural to want change (eg. last November in the US), no matter what the change is. The important thing to remember is that most Palestinians aren't terrorists and just want to have freedom and opportunity.

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