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Hamas offers truce in Gaza Strip Hamas offers truce in Gaza Strip
(18 minutes later)
The Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas, has proposed a six-month truce in the Gaza Strip, which it says could then be extended to the West Bank. The Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas, has proposed a six-month "period of quiet" in Gaza, which it says could then be extended to the West Bank.
Former Palestinian foreign minister Mahmoud Zahhar said the truce would have to be mutual and include the lifting of an Israeli blockade of Gaza.Former Palestinian foreign minister Mahmoud Zahhar said the truce would have to be mutual and include the lifting of an Israeli blockade of Gaza.
He gave the proposals to Egyptian negotiators, who were expected to pass them on to the Israeli government. He handed over the proposal to Egyptian negotiators at a meeting in Cairo.
Israeli officials said they were sceptical about the chances of a truce. An Israeli government spokesman, David Baker, dismissed the move as a ruse to allow Hamas to "re-group and re-arm".
Hamas described the proposed truce as a "period of quiet". He added that Israel would continue to act to protect its citizens.
Israel said it was ready for "quiet" on its border with Gaza, but has demanded a stop to rocket attacks against Israelis and weapon smuggling into the coastal strip. Meanwhile, two Israeli security guards were shot dead by suspected Palestinian militants early on Friday in the Nitzanei Shalom industrial zone, near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, the Israeli military said.
"We can't have a period of quiet that will just be the quiet before the storm," said Israeli spokesman Mark Regev. A military spokeswoman said the gunmen had infiltrated the industrial zone, which is located on the Palestinian side of the West Bank barrier, opened fire at a security post where workers were being screened, and then escaped.
Meanwhile, two Israeli security guards were shot dead early on Friday morning in the Nitzanei Shalom industrial zone, near the West Bank city of Tulkarem, police have said. No Palestinian militant groups have so far claimed responsibility.
An initial investigation into the incident found that at least one gunman had broken into the factory where the men worked, opened fire and escaped. UN aid deliveries halted
Deliveries halted Mr Zahhar, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza, announced his group's proposal for a conditional truce at talks with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman in Cairo. Mr Suleiman has been the main point of contact between Hamas and Israel.
Mr Zahhar announced the Hamas proposal at a meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman in Cairo. There would be no need for Israel's defensive actions if Hamas would cease and desist from committing terrorist attacks on Israelis David BakerIsraeli government spokesman
Mr Suleiman has been the main point of contact between Hamas and Israel.
"The truce must be mutual and simultaneous and the blockade must be lifted and the crossing points opened," Mr Zahhar said, adding that this included the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt."The truce must be mutual and simultaneous and the blockade must be lifted and the crossing points opened," Mr Zahhar said, adding that this included the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
The Rafah crossing has mostly been closed since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June, though Palestinian militants temporarily breached the crossing earlier this year. Rafah has mostly been closed since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June, though Palestinian militants temporarily breached the crossing earlier this year, allowing hundreds of thousands of Gazans to buy food and other essentials.
Palestinian factions would be invited to discuss the proposal next week, Mr Zahhar said. Mr Zahhar said the truce "could be expanded to the West Bank and would be set at six months" and that Palestinian factions would be invited to discuss the proposal next week by the Egyptian mediators.
Israel says it reserves the right to protect its citizens by military action
Hamas had previously said that a truce should begin at the same time in both Gaza and the West Bank.Hamas had previously said that a truce should begin at the same time in both Gaza and the West Bank.
Mr Zahhar added that it was now up to Israel whether or not to approve the ceasefire, saying "the ball is in the Israeli court". If Israel does not comply, "then it will be our right to defend our people in all legitimate ways", he warned.
Israel says it reserves the right to protect its citizens by military action
The Israeli government, however, dismissed the offer.
"Hamas is biding time in order to rearm and regroup," Israeli government spokesman David Baker said, quoted by Reuters news agency.
"There would be no need for Israel's defensive actions if Hamas would cease and desist from committing terrorist attacks on Israelis."
Gaza has been a focus of recent violence, with the Israeli military carrying out raids to target Hamas members, while Hamas has fired rockets at nearby Israeli towns.Gaza has been a focus of recent violence, with the Israeli military carrying out raids to target Hamas members, while Hamas has fired rockets at nearby Israeli towns.
Israel has all but sealed off the Gaza Strip since Hamas took control of the area.Israel has all but sealed off the Gaza Strip since Hamas took control of the area.
On Thursday, the UN said that it had halted food deliveries in Gaza because it had run out of fuel. On Thursday, the UN said that it had halted humanitarian assistance operations in Gaza because it had run out of fuel for its vehicles.
Israeli sanctions imposed in an attempt to curtail rocket fired by Palestinian group Hamas have caused shortages, but Israel says Hamas is preventing fuel distribution.Israeli sanctions imposed in an attempt to curtail rocket fired by Palestinian group Hamas have caused shortages, but Israel says Hamas is preventing fuel distribution.
More than 80% of Gaza's population relies on aid, with UN food hand-outs going to about 1.1 million people - many them children.More than 80% of Gaza's population relies on aid, with UN food hand-outs going to about 1.1 million people - many them children.