Minutes after 7 PM Israel time, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) continued addressing his people, boasting his brokered ceasefire. Simultaneously, residents of Gaza celebrated in the streets waving the familiar “V” sign to sign the victory over Israel, compelling Jerusalem to accept the ceasefire terms. Hamas leaders were seen outside of Shefa Hospital delivering their victory speech.
In Israel, the message is that Hamas has taken a major beating and Gaza had no option other than a ceasefire as it was all but shattered. Some 1,000 terrorists including senior commanders were eliminated, and the terror organization’s military infrastructure is for the most part destroyed and Hamas is almost out of ammunition.
Opponents to the ceasefire warn that this will only permit Hamas to restock and prepare for the next round of warfare. As this is being written sirens are sounding in the Eshkol Regional Council, a quarter of an hour following the beginning of the ceasefire.
In actuality, Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh took an unprecedented step, announcing he is accepting the Egyptian ceasefire, circumventing the leaders in Qatar. This is perhaps the most significant event, showing Hamas indeed was in need of a cessation of warfare. Haniyeh apparently wanted to come out of his bunker.
Israel has agreed to permit humanitarian aid into Gaza and will expand the Gaza fishing zone to six or eight miles. In addition Israel is not objecting to the rehabilitation of Gaza. These are all points that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu agreed to weeks ago.
What is noteworthy is that Hamas agreed to the deal without receiving its main demands, which included a lifting of the marine blockade on Gaza and the opening of all border crossings, including the Rafiach Crossing to Egypt. Israel has not agreed to release terrorists who were released in the Shalit deal and then re-arrested after returning to terrorism.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon remain silent at this time. There is no official word from senior state leaders in Israel.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
For how many days or rather hours or rather minutes can we expect the ceasefire to last? Wait… it’s only 10 minutes later and they’re already shooting.
As long as Hamas has rockets, I wouldn’t trust them for a moment especially with Abbas’ terrorist organization nominated to protect the borders – probably Livni’s and Lapid’s insane suggestion. Israeli ministers are becoming more loony by the day.
as long as Hamas has rockets…and shoots them..Israel will target and take out the launch sites…tit for tat…be realistic, how long can Israel remain under the gun with half the country under cover and commerce and productivity stymied? Barraged by continuous rocket fire? We know that Ishmael has an ascendancy…and know that it’s taking us right towards our Nations destiny…Moshiach is on our doorstep. We can mitigate the severity of the situation by tefillah, good deeds and unity. Teshuva, Tefilla, U’Tzedakah Maavirin Es Roah Hagezeirah, this is the month..let’s put our all into it.. only good will come out of it.