Both sides cautious, sceptical, as Gaza truce begins

Jun 19, 2008, 18:00 GMT

An Israeli tank secures the area as a fuel truck makes its way to Karni crossing to bring fuel to the Gaza Strip, 19 June 2008. The cease fire between Israel and the Hamas started today at 6 am in the morning. EPA/PAVEL WOLBERG

Tel Aviv/Gaza - Residents on both sides of the Gaza Strip border greeted with caution Thursday a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant organizations which came into effect in the early hours of the morning, but few seem prepared to believe the truce will stick.

'The feeling here is very sceptical,' says Noam Bedein of Sderot Media Centre, a non-profit organization in the town situated about two kilometres from the Strip and which has borne the brunt of Palestinian rocket attacks since 2001.

'I support the truce, but I doubt its success,' said Gaza teacher Khader Mohammed.

In the first stage of the six month-long Egyptian-mediated truce, which took effect at 6 am (0300 GMT) Thursday, Israel and the militants are to cease mutual attacks.

For Israel, especially those in the south of the country adjacent to the Gaza Strip, this means an end of the almost-daily mortar and rocket attacks.

For Gazans, a lull means no Israeli air and ground raids on and in the Strip.

According to Bedein, however, Sderot residents are not taking anything for granted.

A previous truce, he says, saw 315 rockets launched at Israel, and few, if any, in the town, are preparing to return to a normal routine just yet.

Any optimism, is limited to hoping for a few days of quiet before the rockets start again.

'I don't believe a single word that is uttered by the other side. But, at least today, I told my son that he'd be allowed to play soccer outside because I believe that on the first day they still won't do anything,' says Sharon Avia, who lives near the Strip.

Gazans too hope the truce will lead not only to an end to Israeli attacks, but also to a return to a 'normal' life.

In this case, this mainly means an end to, or a significant lessening of, the Israeli blockade of the salient, which has seen border crossings closed, and only basic goods making their way into the enclave.

Israel imposed the blockade in response to the rocket and mortar attacks, and further tightened it after Hamas seized sole control of Gaza in June last year.

As part of the truce, Israel will increase the number of goods allowed into Gaza and Egypt will reoped its border crossing of Rafah with the Strip for an initial one or two days a week, after the sides make progress on the release of an Israeli soldier held in the Strip for two years.

Hamas is demanding the release of militants jailed in Israel, in exchange for freeing Corporal Gilad Shalit.

Only once Shalit is returned home will stage three of the truce begin, which includes the daily reopening of the Rafah crossing and a full lifting of Israel's economic blockade of the Strip.

'I hope the ceasefire will last and the crossings reopen and the situation gets better. I married 8 months ago and rented a house; I want the crossings to open so construction materials can come in and I can finish my apartment at the family house,' says Bader al-Shanti, a 26-year-old accountant.

'I hope that a true and mutual lull starts to overcome the consequences of the Israeli siege. Unemployment is high and the (Israeli) closure affected every aspect the daily life,' says Hamza Abu Hmeid, a 33-year-old engineer.

Lifting the blockade was the strongest reason to support the truce, he says.

But both sides remain equally suspicious of the other's motives in agreeing to cease the fire.

Already in April Israeli government spokesman David Baker voiced fears that Hamas, the dominant militant faction, was trying to buy time 'to ready itself for its next terrorist offensive against Israel.'

And on Thursday, Salwa Abu Rayya, 29, an employee in a charity committee, expressed similar sentiments, but about the Israelis.

'We don't trust the Israelis because Israel will use the calm in order to beef up its forces around the Gaza Strip and the population will pay the price and not the governments or the factions,' he said.