Officials say in talks for new Gaza truce
Published yesterday (updated) 23/06/2012 22:04
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=498045

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Senior Fatah official Jamal Muheisen said Saturday that
West Bank authorities are in touch with Egypt and other nations to reach a
truce between Israel and Gaza militants.

While Hamas' military wing signed up to a truce mediated by Egypt on
Wednesday night -- after Israeli airstrikes killed eight Palestinians in
three days -- it quickly came unstuck as rockets and airstrikes continued.

Another five people have been killed in airstrikes since Friday, medical
officials in Gaza say. Israel's military says it is targeting
rocket-launchers and denied involvement in one of the deaths, of a
4-year-old boy on Saturday.

Muheisen called on the international community to save lives by demanding
protection for Palestinians living under occupation in accordance with
international law.

President Mahmoud Abbas is in constant contact with Egypt and other Arab and
foreign countries seeking a truce, he said.

Hamas official Ayman Taha told Gaza-based news site Safa press that an
agreement to halt hostilities had been reached on Saturday night following
Egyptian mediation, but no Hamas spokesman could be reached to confirm the
report.

The Egyptian ambassador to the Palestinian Authority also did not return
calls seeking comment.

Ofer Gendelman, spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister, told Ma'an that
Israel will continue military actions on the Gaza Strip as long as rockets
are fired into Israel.

"Those who fire rockets at Israel will pay the price," he said. An Israeli
military spokeswoman said 24 rockets fired from Gaza landed in south Israel
on Saturday, wounding one Israeli man.

Gendelman declined to discuss any efforts being made via Egypt to reach a
truce.