Hamas' Mashaal: Cease-fire is a tactic, "it is normal for any resistance that operates in its people's interest ... to sometimes escalate, other times retreat a bit." "He also warned of an explosion of violence in Gaza if Israel rejected the truce."
In other words: Accept our plans to annihilate you more slowly, or we'll get back to trying to do it quickly. "Mashaal: Cease-fire is a 'tactic'," by Khaled Abu Toameh for the Jerusalem Post:
Hamas is still waiting for an official response from Israel to the group's readiness to declare a six-month truce, Hamas leaders said Saturday.
They said the Egyptian authorities, which have been mediating between Israel and Hamas, have yet to come back with an official response to the truce initiative.
In an interview on pan-Arab Al-Jazeera television Mashaal said that Hamas was ready to cooperate but added that "it is a tactic in conducting the struggle. ... It is normal for any resistance that operates in its people's interest ... to sometimes escalate, other times retreat a bit. ... The battle is to be run this way and Hamas is known for that."
He also warned of an explosion of violence in Gaza if Israel rejected the truce.
"Hamas has asked the Egyptians for a document containing Israel's commitment to abide by the truce," Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal told reporters in Qatar. "On the basis of this document, Hamas will decide whether to continue with the truce or reject it."
Mashaal said the truce was Egypt's idea and that Hamas would agree to it only if Israel complied with certain conditions. "Hamas did not initiate the period of calm," he said. "It came from the Egyptians."
According to Mashaal, the cease-fire proposal was presented after Israel's attempt to invade Gaza failed.
He said that "Hamas will accept the Egyptian offer of a period of calm as a strong move and not a weak one."
No, really.
Thanks Jihad watch
No comments:
Post a Comment