Israel Rejects Ceasefire

Israel agrees to withdraw from Gaza if truce holds

(NEWSER) - Hamas and other Gaza militants have agreed to an immediate ceasefire, and will allow Israel a week to pull troops out of the area, a Hamas official said today in Egypt. Israel said it would withdraw if the truce was upheld. It had declared a unilateral ceasefire beginning early this morning, but Hamas had vowed to keep fighting until troops were withdrawn from Gaza, Reuters reports. More»

2 children killed in UN school shelter: Palestinians

(NEWSER) - Israel launched 50 air strikes on Gaza last night ahead of a Cabinet vote on a unilateral ceasefire, the BBC reports. A tank shell hit a UN school, killing at least two children among hundreds of people who had taken refuge there, Palestinians say; Israel says it’s looking into the matter. A UN relief agency says Israel’s Gaza operations should face a war crimes probe. More»

But Jerusalem waiting to see if it's 'serious'

(NEWSER) - Israel has reached a tentative truce with Hamas, brokered by Egypt, the BBC and AP report. Starting Thursday, the two sides will begin a “mutual and simultaneous calm,” in which militants will theoretically stop their daily cross-border rocket bombardments, and Israel will in turn cease its military raids. Some border crossings will be opened. More»

(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. More»

Israel vows 'great force' in response

(NEWSER) - A long-range rocket fired today from Gaza struck the Israeli city of Ashkelon in the first such attack since the ceasefire began last month, reports CNN. No injuries were reported, but Israel vowed to respond with "great force." Resumed rocket fire from Gaza presents a particular problem for the centrist-led Israeli government before next week's elections. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has threatened "disproportionate" retaliation for Gaza violence. More»