Hamas rejects cease-fire without truce

[Jefferson23]

10 injured after rocket strikes parked car in downtown Eilat; Israel security cabinet to discuss Egypt cease-fire proposal early Tuesday morning; Kerry 'deeply engaged' in discussions with Netanyahu, Abbas, Egyptian officials.

By Haaretz | Jul. 15, 2014

As Operation Protective Edge enters its second week, a cease-fire initiative spearheaded by Egypt emerged. According to the proposal, a cease-fire would begin Tuesday at 9 A.M. local time.

Israel's security cabinet will meet at 7 A.M. on Tuesday to discuss the proposal. A senior Israeli official said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepts the offer and will bring it to a vote. Economy Minister Naftali Bennett will reportedly vote against a cease-fire.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri already rejected the proposal late Monday night on the grounds that "we are still under occupation and resistance is the right of our people."

A rocket struck a parked car in Eilat, marking the first time Eilat was targeted during Operation Protective Edge. 10 were injured by the resulting shrapnel, and 10 were treated for shock.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.605161

[Jefferson23]

2. Maybe, but if they perceive this as their last one, then I'm not sure about that. But they do want

an out..so we'll see.

The sooner the better.

[Scootaloo]

3. Good job, assholes n/t

[azurnoir]

4. The game works like this Bibi's new friend Sisi offers up a very 1 sided truce favoring Israel

which Hamas stupidly but predictably rejects out of hand allowing Israel to 'nobly' say they would be willing to accept it if only which opens the road for yet more Israeli bombing in Gaza with even more absolution from civilian deaths

[azurnoir]

5. and as predicted-Israel accepts Egyptian ceasefire proposal

http://www.timesofisrael.com/ceasefire-proposed-after-a-week-of-israel-hamas-conflict/

[Jefferson23]

6. Yea, I noticed that too. n/t

[King_David]

12. Hamas isn't interested in stopping the carnage it seems,

They so far have caused 150 Palestinian deaths .
And now they are not interested in stopping because instead of being perceived as being "humiliated" they prefer to be perceived as "terrorist murderers".

[FBaggins]

19. Of course not... the carnage is their goal

It's their only way of scoring any political points at all.

[shira]

24. Hamas wouldn't continue if they weren't getting help...

Plenty of westerners willing to help them.

[Jefferson23]

7. The full text of the Egyptian cease-fire proposal

1. Owing to Egypt’s historical responsibility, and out of belief in the importance of achieving peace in the region, protecting the lives of innocents, and ending the bloodshed;

Egypt calls upon Israel and all of the Palestinian factions to enact an immediate ceasefire, due to the fact that escalation and mutual violence, and the victims that will result, will not be in the interest of either party as such, during the period of the ceasefire, both sides shall abide by the following:

a. Israel shall cease all hostilities against the Gaza Strip via land, sea, and air, and shall commit to refrain from conducting any ground raids against Gaza and targeting civilians.

b. All Palestinian factions in Gaza shall cease all hostilities from the Gaza Strip against Israel via land, sea, air, and underground, and shall commit to refrain from firing all types of rockets, and from attacks on the borders or targeting civilians.

c. Crossings shall be opened and the passage of persons and goods through border crossings shall be facilitated once the security situation becomes stable on the ground.

d. Other issues, including security issues shall be discussed with the two sides.

2. Method of implementation of the initiative:

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.605165

[Jefferson23]

8. LIVE UPDATES: Netanyahu orders IDF strikes on Gaza after rocket fire

Lieberman: IDF must end operation with control of entire Gaza Strip; Israel accepts Egyptian cease-fire proposal, Hamas still debating; 10 wounded after rocket strikes parked car in Eilat.

By Haaretz | Jul. 15, 2014 |

Israel's security cabinet accepted the Egyptian cease-fire offer on Tuesday morning, which, according to the proposal, is supposed to go into effect at 9 A.M. local time and gives both sides 12 hours to stop the attacks once the proposal is accepted by both sides.

Several Hamas officials rejected the Egyptian proposal, but sources said that Hamas is holding talks with Egypt regarding the cease-fire and an official statement by the Hamas political leadership is expected later Tuesday.

Overnight Monday, a rocket struck a parked car in Eilat, in the first attack on Eilat during Operation Protective Edge. Ten were wounded by shrapnel.

Since the operation began, Israel has launched more than 1,300 air strikes in Gaza which killed 192 Palestinians and wounded more than 1,100 people. Gaza hospitals are reporting a dire shortage of medicine and equipment, particularly for trauma injuries.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.605161

[Jefferson23]

9. snip* Deputy Security Minister Danny Danon

voiced disapproval of the Egyptian brokered ceasefire proposal saying, "A ceasefire is a slap in the face for the Israeli people."


MK Miri Regev, Likud, also responded to the reports on the deal, saying, "I call on the prime minister not to agree to a ceasefire and to make a military decision that will weaken Hamas through action in the air, land and sea."

According to her, "This window of opportunity won't return and any ceasefire with Hamas will allow the organization to return to power."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4543633,00.html

[Jefferson23]

10. MK Gal-On to Netanyahu: Fire foreign minister for comments on Gaza take over

Meretz Chairman Zahava Gal-On laid harsh criticism on Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman for his comments Tuesday suggesting that Israel needs to take military control of Gaza. "I call on the prime minister to fire the foreign minister from his position in wake of his
comments that the IDF needs to take control of Gaza and 'go all the way'. This goes against the Cabinet's decision and violates the constitutional principle of the government's responsibility."

Gal-On added that, "The foreign minister is the one who is sabatoging political initiatives to acheive relaxation, and leading to the view that Israelis are the warmongers."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4544118,00.html

[Jefferson23]

11. What happened to the Gaza 'cease-fire' and what happens next?

Whether or not there is any truth to Hamas claims that they learned the terms of cease-fire from the media, it is clear there was little chance of them coming round at this point.

By Anshel Pfeffer | Jul. 15, 2014

The Israeli decision to accept the cease-fire proposed by the Egyptian government and, from 9 A.M. Tuesday (Israel time), to cease its attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip, always presupposed that rockets would be launched by Hamas and other Palestinians factions for a few hours. That has been their practice following previous cease-fire agreements; to reserve their right to have "the last word." Israel can afford to take that risk, relying on the relative inaccuracy of the rockets and the proven effectiveness of the Iron Dome defense system.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, backed by Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, overcame the opposition of some of the members of the security cabinet, as well as the demands coming from much of the Israeli public to "hit Hamas harder" and secured a vote in favor. He then waited for nearly six hours and over 40 rockets fired at various parts of Israel before ordering the air force to resume offensive operations.

Besides achieving a cease-fire, Israel had an additional gain it was looking out for. This was the first overt intervention by the new administration in Cairo in the Israel-Palestine conflict and Jerusalem has a major interest in having President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi as an active participant. After three and a half years of unclear relations with Egypt, this is the perfect opportunity to restore the backchannel with Gaza which can also serve when needed as a lever of pressure on Hamas.

During the first few days of Operation Protective Edge there seemed to be a reluctance of the Egyptians to get involved too deeply. Following the death of the short-lived and one-sided "cease-fire", it seems that when Egypt finally acted, theycould have done so too quickly, without securing at least some minimal understanding with Hamas that they were prepared to go along.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.605266

[Jefferson23]

13. Analysis: Netanyahu talks of demilitarization as rocket barrage continues

Israel expects many Hamas facilities will be destroyed by Operation Protective Edge, but then wants the international community to become involved in taking measures – as yet undefined – to prevent them from being rebuilt.

Tuesday was a roller coaster day that started with talk of a cease-fire, and ended with fire that would not cease.

In the early hours of the day, however, when it appeared – at least in theory – as if the Egyptian- brokered cease-fire might lead to an end to Hamas’s rockets and Operation Protective Edge, diplomatic officials said that the security cabinet agreed to the Egyptian proposal in order to “give an opportunity for the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.”

The idea of a demilitarized Gaza Strip is an idea that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his spokesmen began talking about last week, and that he has raised in his numerous conversations over the last few days with leaders from around the world.

Netanyahu, by design, has kept the goals of the recent Gaza campaign modest.

http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Analysis-Netanyahu-talks-of-demilitarization-as-rocket-barrage-continues-362967

[Jefferson23]

14. Abbas to visit Cairo after Egyptian ceasefire fails to stick

A PA official says Abbas's aim is to ensure the success of the Egyptian proposal and propose PA control of Rafah crossing.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to visit Cairo Wednesday for talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi on the latest developments in the Gaza Strip.

Abbas's visit comes as Hamas rejected Tuesday the Egyptian brokered ceasefire that was accepted by Israel.

http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Abbas-to-visit-Cairo-after-Egyptian-ceasefire-fails-to-stick-362933

Netanyahu: ‘If there is no ceasefire in Gaza, our answer is fire’

The security cabinet met late on Tuesday night to determine the next steps in Operation Protective Edge, at the end of a topsy-turvy day that started with the prospect of a cease-fire and ended with dozens of Hamas rockets hitting Israel and intense retaliatory attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Before convening the security cabinet, which some 12 hours earlier had approved a cease-fire brokered by Egypt that Hamas never accepted, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Israel would answer Hamas’s rejection of a truce with stepped-up attacks.

http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Netanyahu-If-there-is-no-ceasefire-in-Gaza-out-answer-is-fire-362929

[Jefferson23]

15. Secret call between Netanyahu, al-Sissi led to abortive cease-fire

Haaretz has learned that the PM spoke to the Egyptian president in a phone call prompted by Quartet envoy Tony Blair.
By Barak Ravid | 15:02 16

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi on Saturday in a telephone call that has been kept secret until now, after Quartet special envoy Tony Blair urged the Egyptian leader to become more actively involved in promoting a cease-fire, diplomatic sources told Haaretz.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.605499

[King_David]

17. How many deaths since they rejected this Egyptian cease fire ?

[azurnoir]

18. Thanks for kicking this thread which shows that apparently Israel accepted the cease fire only after

Hamas rejected it

[King_David]

20. AS if that makes any difference

Hamas rejected the cease fire, hence they could of, but did not want to stop the carnage.

[azurnoir]

21. but they did accept the second humanitarian one didn't they

there was also work going on to secure terms for an actual cease fire until Israel decided a ground invasion was needed

[King_David]

22. Again , so what...

Hamas could of stopped this all . Instead they rejected a cease fire.

[azurnoir]

23. yep just keeping repeating that

perhaps it says more than you seem to realize

[King_David]

25. OK

No idea what that means.

[shira]

26. The pro-Palestinian contingent should've been BEGGING Hamas...

....to accept the ceasefire. Instead, they defended Hamas' decision, so many more Palestinians will have to die. Nice western progressive "pro-Palestinian" decision there.

Care to explain why?

[azurnoir]

27. excuse me but what? no one has defended Hamas decision but rather to point out

the emptiness of Israel's acceptance, if you look back on this very thread I predicted it

[shira]

28. Nope. The entire BDS movement, all major orgs & leaders....

...have defended Hamas' decision to reject the ceasefire. Not one of them condemned Hamas for it.

I challenge you to find me one leading 'pro-Palestinian' organization that ripped into Hamas for rejecting a ceasefire.

I'll wait.

[azurnoir]

29. wait for what? here's your answer

had Morsi not been ousted by a coup, would Israel have accepted a cease fire designed by Morsi and Haniyeh with out input from Israel, and one in fact designed to humiliate Israel?

[shira]

30. It was a ceasefire. All hostilities end. Hamas rejected it.

No concessions for either side. All fighting stops.

Hamas didn't want any part of it.

The "progressive" pro-Palestinian, pro-BDS movement defended Hamas, preferring more war, more Palestinian bloodshed.

[azurnoir]

31. NO shira it was a duplicate of last one which amounted to

Israel had the 'right' to pick off any Gazan who got within shooting range of the border fence if that's your idea of a cease fire then I really don't know how to continue like the guy that got a bullet to the head for collecting trash

also your replies seem to indicate a belief that the Hamas refusal included an obligation or right for Israel to step up violence it was the very next day Israel blew up 4 children playing on the beach in Gaza

[shira]

32. A ceasefire means no Hamas provocation, no digging tunnels....

...right next to the Israel border, no setting up mortars or snipers within short range of Israeli troops. Of course Israel has a right to take preemptive measures to that bullshit.

[azurnoir]

33. do you actually wish to justify shooting civilians? the guy was collecting trash

if you wish to say killing someone for that preemptive action be my guest

Spike in number of Palestinian civilians killed near Gaza perimeter fence


On Friday, 20 December 2013, ‘Odeh Hamad, 27, was shot while scrap-collecting metal and plastic at the Beit Hanoun garbage dump. According to B'Tselem's inquiries, Hamad was struck in the head by a live bullet at around 3:20 PM, while he was cutting the barbed wire fence which parallels the perimeter fence. His brother, Radad Hamad, told B'Tselem that they had heard neither warnings nor shots fired in the air prior to the shooting. Additional gunshots were then fired from the military tower located about 400 meters away, and Radad Hamad suffered a gunshot wound to his arm. ‘Odeh Hamad was taken to the hospital in Beit Hanoun where he was pronounced dead. The IDF spokesperson said, "[O]n Friday, at midday, several suspects came close to the perimeter fence, within the area to which entry is prohibited, and sabotaged the fence barrier several times. The troops on site repeatedly tried to distance them, but as the sabotage continued, the force carried out suspect arrest procedure, during which one of the suspects was injured".
On Thursday, 2 January 2014, 'Adnan Abu Khater, 16, was walking with several other youths in an area close to perimeter fence, east of Jabalya. Abu Khater was shot in the abdomen by soldiers and died of his wounds the next day. According to military officials quoted in Israeli daily Haaretz, the youths had attempted to sabotage the perimeter fence, and therefore one of them was shot in the leg.
On Friday, 24 January 2014, Bilal 'Aweidah, 19, of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, was shot and killed several meters away from the perimeter fence. The area where 'Aweidah was shot is considered basically trouble-free and many civilians use it recreationally. According to B'Tselem's inquiries, 'Aweidah was taking strolling there with some friends. They approached the fence and, with their cellular phones, photographed one another near it, (see photos: link 1, link 2, link 3). When the young men came near a surveillance camera mounted on the perimeter fence, a single shot was fired at them from the nearby military watchtower. The bullet struck 'Aweidah in the chest. He was taken to Kamal 'Adwan Hospital in Beith Lahiya, where he was pronounced dead. According to military officials quoted in the news section of Israeli website Ynet, "In the early afternoon, dozens of Palestinians congregated in the restricted access area near the perimeter fence in the northern Gaza Strip and sabotaged it. The military states that in the course of attempts to distance the crowd, two suspects were struck by IDF gunfire. The IDF will not allow any harm to the perimeter fence, to the security of the State of Israel or to its citizens".
On Thursday, 13 February 2014, Ibrahim Mansur, 35, of Gaza City, was shot at a spot about 100 meters away from the perimeter fence, east of Gaza City. Mansur was collecting sand and gravel along with several other people at the time he was shot. According to B'Tselem's inquiries, at around 2:30 PM, several shots were fired at the group from a nearby military watchtower. Mansur was struck in the head, and another man suffered a minor leg injury. Both were taken to a-Shifaa Hospital, Gaza City. Mansur was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. According to a report in Israeli daily Haaretz, military officials said that the soldiers shot at Palestinians who had approached the perimeter fence in the northern Gaza Strip. The military claimed that the Palestinians tried to sabotage the fence and had entered the restricted access area.

http://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20140304_shooting_near_gaza_fence

[shira]

35. Point proven. You're defending Hamas rejection of a ceasefire....

...which could've saved dozens of Palestinians by now.



The article shows they were cutting & infiltrating thru the border fence. If IDF troops or Israeli "farmers" or "innocent teens" attempted that at the Gaza or Lebanese border & were shot, you'd be among the first to argue Hamas or Hezbollah was justified in shooting infiltrators.

[azurnoir]

39. condemning Israels shooting people who get 'too' near the Gaza border fence means I support Hamas?

of the 5 listed as dead only one was demonstrably (by IDF's claim) doing anything suspicious

[shira]

40. It would be horrifically irresponsible of Israel to allow innocents...

....near the border of a hostile enemy. The same applies to Gazan authorities who should be keeping Palestinians away from the IDF.

The point is that ALL so-called pro-Palestinians should be trashing Hamas for endangering Palestinian civilians. That is NOT happening.

SHAME.

[azurnoir]

41. How close to the Gaza border fence are Israeli civilians allowed? n/t

[Jefferson23]

34. Correct...thank you. n/t

[shira]

36. You "pro-Palestinian" advocates should've been BEGGING Hamas..

...to accept a ceasefire that would've saved dozens of Palestinians by now.

Instead, you're defending their warmongering ways.

[Jefferson23]

37. Please stop telling me what I said and what I support. You are lousy at it, btw.

Hamas needs to end all their violence, that does not change what we were discussing.

[shira]

38. So u agree, Hamas should've accepted the ceasefire? n/t