Hamas declares ceasefire, gives Israel week to withdraw

Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal announced on Syrian television on Sunday afternoon that the Islamic group would implement a cease-fire. Mashall said Hamas would halt all military activity and give IDF troops one week to pull out of the Gaza Strip. Hamas declares ceasefire, gives Israel week to withdraw According to the statement, Israel must end the blockade and open the border crossings. A leader of the Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip said that his group agreed to the Hamas truce, and said that other smaller Palestinian factions have signed on, as well. The development comes after Israel declared a unilateral cease-fire which took effect earlier Sunday morning. The two cease-fires do not appear to be coordinated with each other, and have contradicting demands. While Israel said it would halt all military activity, it said it would maintain its presence in Gaza until it was clear that Palestinian gunmen would honor the calm. In addition, Israel said it would not open any border crossings until all hostilities have ceased. Shortly after the Hamas declaration, the spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office reaffirmed Israel's position and expressed hope that the calm would be maintained for the long-term. "If in fact we see a cessation of Hamas activity towards Israel, then we could see a long-term ceasefire," Mark Regev told Sky News. He added that Israel "clearly does not want to" stay in Gaza, and that Israel would do everything it could to maintain the calm. On Saturday, Hamas said it would continue to fight despite Israel's decision unilaterally end the offensive. However, defiant statements issued by a number of Hamas representatives were countered by sources close to the movement which said the group would honor the cease-fire. "Hamas needs the lull," the sources said. "They have been hit hard and they have no choice but to comply." Hamas representatives said they would resist any attempt by Israel or other parties to confiscate its weapons. They also warned against allowing forces loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to return to the Strip. "We will continue the resistance operations for as long as there is one Zionist soldier in the Gaza Strip," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said. "We will continue regardless of the price." Fawzi said Hamas's conditions for accepting a cease-fire included a halt to the IDF operation, the reopening of the border crossings into the Gaza Strip and the lifting of the blockade. The Hamas spokesman said that the decision to declare a unilateral cease-fire showed that the war was also a unilateral move on the part of Israel against the Palestinians. "This war had nothing to do with the rockets or the presence of Hamas in the Gaza Strip," he said. "This war against children, women and the elderly was part of the upcoming Israeli election campaign." Hamas also voiced opposition to the US-Israeli agreement to stop the smuggling of weapons under the border between Gaza and Egypt. "This agreement is aimed at tightening the siege around the Gaza Strip and establishing a new base for spying on the Palestinians and Egypt."

Hamas declares ceasefire, gives Israel week to withdraw

According to the statement, Israel must end the blockade and open the border crossings.

A leader of the Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip said that his group agreed to the Hamas truce, and said that other smaller Palestinian factions have signed on, as well.

The development comes after Israel declared a unilateral cease-fire which took effect earlier Sunday morning.

The two cease-fires do not appear to be coordinated with each other, and have contradicting demands. While Israel said it would halt all military activity, it said it would maintain its presence in Gaza until it was clear that Palestinian gunmen would honor the calm.

In addition, Israel said it would not open any border crossings until all hostilities have ceased.

Shortly after the Hamas declaration, the spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office reaffirmed Israel's position and expressed hope that the calm would be maintained for the long-term.

"If in fact we see a cessation of Hamas activity towards Israel, then we could see a long-term ceasefire," Mark Regev told Sky News.

He added that Israel "clearly does not want to" stay in Gaza, and that Israel would do everything it could to maintain the calm.

On Saturday, Hamas said it would continue to fight despite Israel's decision unilaterally end the offensive.

However, defiant statements issued by a number of Hamas representatives were countered by sources close to the movement which said the group would honor the cease-fire.

"Hamas needs the lull," the sources said. "They have been hit hard and they have no choice but to comply."

Hamas representatives said they would resist any attempt by Israel or other parties to confiscate its weapons. They also warned against allowing forces loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to return to the Strip.

"We will continue the resistance operations for as long as there is one Zionist soldier in the Gaza Strip," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said. "We will continue regardless of the price."

Fawzi said Hamas's conditions for accepting a cease-fire included a halt to the IDF operation, the reopening of the border crossings into the Gaza Strip and the lifting of the blockade.

The Hamas spokesman said that the decision to declare a unilateral cease-fire showed that the war was also a unilateral move on the part of Israel against the Palestinians.

"This war had nothing to do with the rockets or the presence of Hamas in the Gaza Strip," he said. "This war against children, women and the elderly was part of the upcoming Israeli election campaign."

Hamas also voiced opposition to the US-Israeli agreement to stop the smuggling of weapons under the border between Gaza and Egypt.

"This agreement is aimed at tightening the siege around the Gaza Strip and establishing a new base for spying on the Palestinians and Egypt."