Hamas sets out truce conditions

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 03-13-2008 09:11

Israeli forces have killed four Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank.

Speaking at Gaza's Islamic University, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haneya demanded an end to Israeli  military activity in the Gaza Strip.(CCTV.com)

The violence came hours after the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers demanded an end to what they see as acts of Israeli "aggression" in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Hamas also demands the reopening of Gaza border crossings.

Speaking at Gaza's Islamic University, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haneya demanded an end to Israeli military activity in the Gaza Strip, a lifting of Israeli economic sanctions and the opening of Gaza's borders, which have been sealed since Hamas seized control of the area last June.

He said he expected Israel to fulfill its obligations to achieve a mutual comprehensive calm.

Ismail Haneya, Hamas Prime Minister. said, "We are talking about a mutual comprehensive calm. The internal Palestinian dialogue is about these issues. Therefore, we say today, after this victory, there is a Palestinian dialogue and there are efforts by the Egyptian brothers who are working on this issue. We, as Palestinians, are waiting for the Israeli answers. Therefore the ball is in the Israeli court."

However, during a visit to an army base on Wednesday, the Israeli Defence Minister said official truce talks had not been set up.

Ehud Barak, Israeli Defence Minister, said, "We are not in a situation of reaching an agreement, we have decided on continuous activity, that its purpose is to stop the launching of Qassam rockets and restoring the security to the residents of the region."

The offer by Haneya came amid growing signs that Israel and Hamas are moving closer towards an Egyptian-brokered deal to end weeks of cross-border fighting that has killed dozens of people.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei