WITH ISRAEL’s war in Gaza now in its 19th day, there are finally signs the sides may be moving closer to accepting ceasefire proposals brokered by Egypt.
Israel’s senior defence ministry official, Amos Gilad, will travel to Cairo tomorrow for talks seen as crucial for prospects of ending the violence.
Yesterday, following lengthy discussions in Cairo between Egyptian officials and Hamas representatives, a senior Hamas figure indicated the organisation will accept the Egyptian proposals as long as “Hamas reservations are taken into consideration”.
Moussa Abu Marzuk, deputy head of the Hamas politburo, expressed confidence changes will be made to satisfy the organisation.
UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon is in the region to press for an immediate end to the violence. Before departing, he had a simple message: “To both sides, I say: Just stop, now. Too many people have died.”
Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak said the military operation will continue in parallel to the diplomatic efforts. “We are working to stop the rocket attacks and the arms smuggling into Gaza, while at the same time keeping an eye on diplomatic initiatives,” said Mr Barak, visiting an air force base.
There are five main elements to the ceasefire initiative: ending the fighting; an Israeli military withdrawal; opening of the border crossings; stopping the militant rocket fire; and ending arms smuggling.
The details are being thrashed out in the ongoing negotiations and the sequence of implementation is crucial.
Hamas wants an Israeli withdrawal and an agreed date for opening the crossings before the ceasefire begins.
Israel wants an end to the rocket fire and a workable mechanism to stop arms smuggling before the troops pull out.
Israel would like to end the operation before Barack Obama is sworn in as US president next Tuesday. On the ground, Israeli troops pushed deeper into the outskirts of Gaza city, clashing with Palestinian gunmen in various locations.
Israel’s top general, chief of staff Lieut Gen Gabi Ashkenazi,told members of the Israeli parliament the troops are doing an extraordinary job.
“We have made many achievements in damaging Hamas and its infrastructure, its regime and its military wing, but there is still much to be done.”
He briefed the Knesset members that militants have donned Israeli army uniforms and tried to carry out suicide bombings during the fighting. The general denied claims by human rights groups that Israel was using phosphorus bombs in the campaign.
There has been a significant reduction in militant rocket fire into Israel over the last few days, but military sources warned that the gunmen may be planning a large barrage just before a truce goes into effect.
Two Palestinian reporters were indicted in an Israeli court yesterday on charges of leaking censored information to an Iranian television channel.
The two allegedly reported that the Israeli ground offensive was under way a few hours before the Israeli military censor cleared the information. Both men denied charges of aiding the enemy in a time of war.