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Israel seeks ceasefire that will restore authority to Abbas, says official Israel seeks ceasefire that will restore authority to Abbas, says official
(about 2 hours later)
Israel wants a ceasefire agreement that would restore the authority of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza, according to a senior government official. Israel wants a ceasefire agreement that would restore the authority of the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, in Gaza, according to a senior government official.
Talks in Cairo seeking a way to end the 10-day conflict in Gaza, in which more than 220 Palestinians – mostly civilians – have been killed, continued on Thursday amid a flurry of contradictory statements and speculation.Talks in Cairo seeking a way to end the 10-day conflict in Gaza, in which more than 220 Palestinians – mostly civilians – have been killed, continued on Thursday amid a flurry of contradictory statements and speculation.
"We're in a really critical 24 hours," said a western diplomat. "If there's no ceasefire in the next two or three days, pressure will increase on Netanyahu for a ground operation." "We're in a really critical 24 hours," said a western diplomat. "If there's no ceasefire in the next two or three days, pressure will increase on [the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin] Netanyahu for a ground operation."
Delegations from both Israel and Hamas engaged in the arms-lengths talks, setting out through intermediaries their principal terms for ending the military confrontation.Delegations from both Israel and Hamas engaged in the arms-lengths talks, setting out through intermediaries their principal terms for ending the military confrontation.
"Israel wants to see a situation that Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas] is part of," the official told the Guardian."Israel wants to see a situation that Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas] is part of," the official told the Guardian.
While a full restoration of Palestinian Authority (PA) control in Gaza is unlikely, one possibility is that the PA takes responsibility for policing the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which has been closed for around a year. Hamas is demanding it be re-opened – a move which would require Egypt's agreement - as part of a ceasefire deal. The Palestinian Authority's ambassador in Cairo told the Guardian there would be no announcement of a ceasfire agreement on Thursday.
Hamas has been the sole authority in Gaza since June 2007, after it seized control 18 months after winning elections. Even a limited return of PA security forces would ease Hamas's grip on the coastal enclave. "I think we need more time, unfortunately," said Gamal Shobky, following two days of talks between representatives of Egypt, Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. "Our president [Abbas] is going tomorrow to Turkey to continue the negotiations."
Shobky said two main stumbling blocks remained. Israel does not want to release a number of Palestinian prisoners recently recaptured after their release under a previous peace agreement. Secondly, Israel and Egypt are reluctant to ease a blockade of Gaza that has crippled the region's economy.
"These are the two key issues – the prisoners, which Israel refused, and the opening of the borders, especially at Rafah, [on the border with Egypt] and to allow for more movement on the sea, and to return farmland to Gaza."
While a full restoration of Palestinian Authority (PA) control in Gaza is unlikely, one possibility is that the PA takes responsibility for policing the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which has been closed for around a year. Hamas is demanding it be reopened – a move which would require Egypt's agreement – as part of a ceasefire deal.
Hamas has been the sole authority in Gaza since June 2007, when it seized control 18 months after winning elections. Even a limited return of PA security forces would ease Hamas's grip on the coastal enclave.
Several media outlets reported on Thursday afternoon that a ceasefire would take effect from 6am local time on Friday, but swift denials followed from Israeli officials, Hamas and Egypt. "Talks are ongoing," said one.Several media outlets reported on Thursday afternoon that a ceasefire would take effect from 6am local time on Friday, but swift denials followed from Israeli officials, Hamas and Egypt. "Talks are ongoing," said one.
The meetings in Cairo took place during a humanitarian pause in the fighting, largely adhered to by both sides, to allow Palestinians to stock up on food and water, obtain cash from ATMs and visit relatives. Air strikes and rocket fire resumed minutes after its scheduled end at 3pm.The meetings in Cairo took place during a humanitarian pause in the fighting, largely adhered to by both sides, to allow Palestinians to stock up on food and water, obtain cash from ATMs and visit relatives. Air strikes and rocket fire resumed minutes after its scheduled end at 3pm.
Meanwhile, Israel said it had thwarted an attempted attack by a dozen militants, who tunnelled into Israel from Gaza. There were unconfirmed reports of a second major operation against another attempted tunnel attack on Thursday evening, close to the Gaza border.Meanwhile, Israel said it had thwarted an attempted attack by a dozen militants, who tunnelled into Israel from Gaza. There were unconfirmed reports of a second major operation against another attempted tunnel attack on Thursday evening, close to the Gaza border.
The Israeli president, Shimon Peres, issued a qualified apology for the shelling of a beach in Gaza City on Wednesday which killed four children. The incident made headlines around the world but most Israeli media outlets relegated the story.The Israeli president, Shimon Peres, issued a qualified apology for the shelling of a beach in Gaza City on Wednesday which killed four children. The incident made headlines around the world but most Israeli media outlets relegated the story.
The UN agency for refugees, Unrwa, said it had discovered about 20 rockets hidden in a school, which it condemned as a "flagrant violation of inviolability" of its premises. The discovery will fuel Israel's claims that Hamas uses schools, hospitals, mosques and civilians as cover for weapons.The UN agency for refugees, Unrwa, said it had discovered about 20 rockets hidden in a school, which it condemned as a "flagrant violation of inviolability" of its premises. The discovery will fuel Israel's claims that Hamas uses schools, hospitals, mosques and civilians as cover for weapons.
In Cairo, Hamas reportedly tabled several demands for a cessation of rocket fire, including the reopening of crossings to Israel and Rafah, access to the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem for residents of Gaza and the release of dozens of prisoners recently rearrested after being released as part of the deal to free captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. In Cairo, Hamas reportedly tabled several demands for a cessation of rocket fire, including the reopening of crossings to Israel and Rafah, access to al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem for residents of Gaza and the release of dozens of prisoners recently rearrested after being freed as part of the deal for the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Israel was expected to balk at freeing the prisoners, particularly while those responsible for the abduction and murder of three Israeli youths in the West Bank last month were still at large. "This is a deeply neuralgic issue for Netanyahu," said the western diplomat.Israel was expected to balk at freeing the prisoners, particularly while those responsible for the abduction and murder of three Israeli youths in the West Bank last month were still at large. "This is a deeply neuralgic issue for Netanyahu," said the western diplomat.
Each side wants to see a ceasefire agreement that goes beyond yet another short-term truce, but neither is as yet prepared to make such a deal. Israel wants an end to Hamas hegemony in Gaza, without creating a power vacuum which could be filled by even less palatable organisations, hence its focus on Abbas and the PA. Hamas wants an end to the siege, which stretches back more than seven years, and a tangible result on the visceral issue of prisoners.Each side wants to see a ceasefire agreement that goes beyond yet another short-term truce, but neither is as yet prepared to make such a deal. Israel wants an end to Hamas hegemony in Gaza, without creating a power vacuum which could be filled by even less palatable organisations, hence its focus on Abbas and the PA. Hamas wants an end to the siege, which stretches back more than seven years, and a tangible result on the visceral issue of prisoners.
The talks are being brokered by the Egyptian government. Abbas is also in Cairo, along with the Middle East envoy, Tony Blair. US secretary of state John Kerry is on standby to return to the region. The talks are being brokered by the Egyptian government. Abbas is in Cairo along with the Middle East envoy Tony Blair. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, is on standby to return to the region.
Should the talks fail to produce a ceasefire, pressure will mount on Netanyahu to authorise an escalation of the military campaign to include a ground operation – a development both sides appear to want to avoid. For Israel, it would risk military casualties and being drawn into a complex and undesirable re-occupation of Gaza nine years after it pulled out troops and settlers. For Hamas, it would mean further depletion of its military resources and a spiral in the numbers of civilian casualties.Should the talks fail to produce a ceasefire, pressure will mount on Netanyahu to authorise an escalation of the military campaign to include a ground operation – a development both sides appear to want to avoid. For Israel, it would risk military casualties and being drawn into a complex and undesirable re-occupation of Gaza nine years after it pulled out troops and settlers. For Hamas, it would mean further depletion of its military resources and a spiral in the numbers of civilian casualties.
Israel may opt for a limited raids on the ground, against specific targets in Gaza, rather than a general incursion by troops and tanks. Another possibility is a ground operation to clear broad swaths of land around Gaza's perimeter in order to hinder rocket launching and other cross-border attacks.Israel may opt for a limited raids on the ground, against specific targets in Gaza, rather than a general incursion by troops and tanks. Another possibility is a ground operation to clear broad swaths of land around Gaza's perimeter in order to hinder rocket launching and other cross-border attacks.
Although the Israeli public has been overwhelmingly supportive of the military offensive, it is unclear how much support a ground offensive would garner. The fear of casualties among teenage conscripts and civilian reservists is enormous.Although the Israeli public has been overwhelmingly supportive of the military offensive, it is unclear how much support a ground offensive would garner. The fear of casualties among teenage conscripts and civilian reservists is enormous.
In the last intense conflict, Operation Pillar of Defence in November 2012, there was considerable public opposition to a ground invasion. However, there are signs that the prevailing public mood now is more in favour of decisive military action in the hope it would end successive rounds of conflict seen over recent years.In the last intense conflict, Operation Pillar of Defence in November 2012, there was considerable public opposition to a ground invasion. However, there are signs that the prevailing public mood now is more in favour of decisive military action in the hope it would end successive rounds of conflict seen over recent years.