Gaza truce near collapse as rockets hit Israel

MIDDLE EAST:THE CEASEFIRE between Gaza and Israel was close to collapse yesterday after two mortars were fired from the Strip into the western Negev. This was the third time Palestinians launched missiles into Israel since the truce came into effect on June 19th.

On Tuesday, three rockets were fired at the Israeli town of Sderot by Islamic Jihad in retaliation for the killing of two of its West Bank members by Israeli troops.

On Thursday, al-Aqsa Martyrs' Battalions, Fatah's military wing, launched two missiles into southern Israel. These factions are insisting that the ceasefire apply to the West Bank, although Hamas and Israel agreed this would happen later.

Israel says Hamas, instigator of the truce, has failed to prevent the other groups from violating the ceasefire. But Palestinians charge Israel with firing at fishermen and farmers, and breaching its commitment to open the crossings into Gaza to allow in shipments of raw materials and essential goods.

Last Sunday, Israel increased the number of trucks allowed to off-load in Gaza from 60 to 90. But the crossings were closed before a significant volume of goods could enter. Some 1,200 lorry-loads used to enter Gaza on a daily basis. Yesterday, only diesel flowed into Gaza for its power station.

On Wednesday, Siad Siyam, interior minister in Hamas's de facto government, met with faction leaders to press them to honour the ceasefire.

While he threatened serious consequences for truce breakers, Hamas may not have the will or the means to impose discipline. Its own military arm, Izzedin al-Qassam Brigades, has split into two groups, one loyal to the political leadership, which is committed to the ceasefire, and the other comprised of dissidents.

Hamas must keep in line Islamic Jihad, Fatah, the Popular Resistance Committees, the Popular and Democratic Fronts, and various breakaway factions.

Fatah and Jihad, Hamas rivals, seek to upstage Hamas, which refuses to follow the example of the Fatah-run Palestinian Authority by becoming "Israel's policeman" in Gaza, stopping fighters from resisting the occupation, which Hamas argues is legitimate under international law.

Hamas knows it will lose popular support if the ceasefire fails, leaving Israel's blockade in place.

Israel is under pressure to reach the second stage of the truce which is to involve exchange of its captured soldier, Gilad Shalit, for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas says there will be no swap unless the ceasefire holds.