Hamas willing to accept Gaza truce
Middle East Desk Report

GAZA CITY (Gaza Strip)—Hamas has softened its position and is willing to accept a cease-fire in just the Gaza Strip, dropping a demand that the truce immediately include the West Bank, the group’s senior representatives said Tuesday.
The move marked a significant concession by Hamas as Egyptian mediators try to halt fighting between Palestinian militants and the Israeli army in Gaza. For weeks, Hamas insisted on a mutual cease-fire in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Hamas lawmaker Salah Bardawil said the group is now ready for a cease-fire that “will begin in Gaza, and then move to the West Bank” sometime in the future. Another senior Hamas official also confirmed the group’s new position.
Israel regularly carries out airstrikes and military incursions against Palestinian rocket squads in Hamas-controlled Gaza, a strip of land bordering southern Israel. While Israel is conducting peace talks with the rival Palestinian government in the West Bank, the Israeli army continues to carry out arrest raids in that territory as well.
Bardawil said Hamas was willing to soften its stance to ensure the deal’s success. He said Hamas’ exiled political leader, Khaled Mashaal, agreed to the proposal, indicating that all Hamas members including its hard-line militant wing must abide by the decision.
Egyptian mediators initially suggested the proposal, Bardawil said. Negotiators planned to discuss the proposal with Egypt again on Thursday, and then the Egyptians will relay the deal to Israel, he said.
Israel has repeatedly said it isn’t negotiating with Hamas, a group that has carried out numerous suicide bombings and remains committed to Israel’s destruction. A government spokesman said Tuesday that Israel would keep up its military pressure on Hamas as long as the group threatens Israeli civilians.
“Israeli defense measures are necessary because of the ongoing terrorism launched by Hamas-controlled elements in Gaza. If there were no terror activities there would be no need for Israel’s military activity,” spokesman David Baker said.
As part of a cease-fire, Hamas will demand that Israel and Egypt open Gaza’s border crossings, Bardawil said. The crossings have been closed since last year except for humanitarian aid in an attempt to weaken Hamas and end ongoing rocket fire at Israeli towns.
Even if Hamas reaches an understanding with Israel, there is no guarantee that smaller militant groups in Gaza will abide.
One of those groups, Islamic Jihad, said Tuesday it would not stand in the way of a deal that had popular support. Another hardline group aligned to Hamas, the Popular Resistance Committees, also said it would abide by “any agreement by the resistance factions.”
However, Bardawil said if Israel didn’t abide to a truce in the West Bank as well, militants there could still legitimately carry out attacks.
The shift in Hamas’ position came on the heels of statements by Mashaal, the group’s Syrian-based leader, after a meeting with former President Jimmy Carter last week. It was unclear whether Carter’s appeals to Hamas to halt its rocket attacks on Israel had factored into the group’s decision.
Mashaal said Hamas would accept a peace deal with Israel, provided it is approved in a referendum of all Palestinians, and also offered a 10-year truce if Israel withdraws from the West Bank and Jerusalem.