Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Gaza ceasefire will come into effect tonight--BBC

Gaza ceasefire will come into effect tonight, says Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha in Cairo - The  BBC just reported. (11/20/2012-11am)

Update: 8:30 PM 11/20/2012

Reuters reports that palastinian officials in Cairo are now saying that there would be no ceasefire before Wednesday, as they await the Israeli cabinet approval of the ceasefire agreement.

Secretary of State Clinton's remarks during her visit to Israel also appear to imply that there would be no  immediate ceasefire.
"In the days ahead, the United States will work with our partners here in Israel and across the region toward an outcome that bolsters security for the people of Israel, improves conditions for the people of Gaza and moves toward a comprehensive peace for all people of the region," Clinton said.(1)

Update 11/21/2012 8:00 am


Haaretz is quoting Palestinian sources in Cairo saying a cease-fire will not be announced on Wednesday due to disagreement over the Gaza blockade. The source says that Israel refuses to include the lifting of the blockade in the truce agreement.

Update 11/21/2012
Post Clinton visit to the region, a ceasefire is finally agreed.
See nader's post http://www.uskowioniran.com/2012/11/israel-hamas-agree-to-cease-fire.html

Reference:
(1)http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/20/us-palestinians-israel-hamas-idUSBRE8AD0WP20121120

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

What an ass whipping for Iran and its allies. Hamas gained nothing and had about 1,000 buildings blown to smithereens. And their crappy missiles designed by Iranians (not smart people) did nothing.

Anonymous said...

might just be one more instance of a Hamas spokesman being not quite correct or merely reporting what he hopes to be correct instead of what he can demonstrate as truth.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 3:28 PM, they are obviously smarter than certain people, by not indulging in racist stereotyping and not making public, an enjoyment of massacring civilians.

Anonymous said...

Parties over guys! Back to reality and what is going on in Syria regarding regime change!

Anonymous said...

Goddamn! Just lift the effing blockade already, give the Palestinians another chance!

Without a blockade and all the negatives that it has entailed, then maybe we can start moving towards an improvement in the relationship between the Palestinian authority and the Israeli government. In the same token it should be demanded of Hamas to stop firing rockets into Israel, and they should agree to such a promise and both parties have to pledge responsibility to uphold the peace agreement.

Anonymous said...

Anon 3:28 PM

I disagree. The Iranian missiles did something: they instilled psychological fear in the Israeli population and caused a significant setback to the Israeli economy (i.e. Israel is already suffering from a fall-off in tourist arrivals).

Anonymous said...

Is it true that watches and pen balls given to Hamas military and other leaders by Qatari emir, during his visit to Gaza, had sent low frequency signals to zionist's satellites and contributed to the killings of those Hamas leaders.

A-F

Unknown said...

@anon 10:41
Spare us the conspiracy theories.

It is no secret that Israel is aware of the leaders whereabouts at all times in the tiny territory of Gaza.

The assassinated leader, Ahmad Jabari, was someone who traveled (semi-freely) outside Gaza and his killing, right Or wrong, was simply a strategic decision by Israel.

Anonymous said...

Netanyahu is responsible for the escalation. On Tuesday, Egyptians and others were working on a long term truth and it looked like it was going to happen. Then suddenly on Wednesday, Hamas leader Jabari got assassinated by Israel. Bibi is escalating because he wants to get elected by wider margin, undermine Palestinians' UN bid, and weaken Hamas prior to a possible attack on Iran. I don't like Hamas, but they also have the right to defend themselves.

Anonymous said...

Jabbar Fazeli

The assassinated leader, Ahmad Jabari, was someone who traveled (semi-freely) outside Gaza and his killing, right Or wrong, was simply a strategic decision by Israel.

More like strategic mistake by Israel, according to Gershon Baskin, an Israeli peace activist. Here's an excerpt from Haaretz article:

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Hours before Hamas strongman Ahmed Jabari was assassinated, he received the draft of a permanent truce agreement with Israel, which included mechanisms for maintaining the cease-fire in the case of a flare-up between Israel and the factions in the Gaza Strip. This, according to Israeli peace activist Gershon Baskin, who helped mediate between Israel and Hamas in the deal to release Gilad Shalit and has since then maintained a relationship with Hamas leaders.

Baskin told Haaretz on Thursday that senior officials in Israel knew about his contacts with Hamas and Egyptian intelligence aimed at formulating the permanent truce, but nevertheless approved the assassination.

"I think that they have made a strategic mistake," Baskin said, an error "which will cost the lives of quite a number of innocent people on both sides."
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Unknown said...

@anon 10:42
I don't necessarily disagree that it may have been a mistake, but it was a conscious strategic decision, not a target of opportunity case.