Haniya says no ceasefire without West Bank

Apr 23, 2008, 13:09 GMT

Gaza - Any ceasefire between Hamas and Israel would have to extend to the West Bank, Hamas leader Ismail Haniya said Wednesday.

'The lull, if accepted by the Israeli occupation, must be mutual, comprehensive and applied in West Bank and Gaza Strip under a national Palestinian agreement,' he said while opening a paediatric hospital in Gaza City.

'The ball now is in the Israeli court,' he added.

Haniya's statements came as senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar informed Egyptian mediators of the movement's stance regarding a truce.

Egypt has been trying to forge a ceasefire between Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups which almost-daily launch rockets at Israeli towns and villages adjacent to the Gaza Strip, and Israel, which launches regular airstrikes on, and ground forays into, the salient.

Hamas, which administers the Gaza Strip, wants the truce to extend also to the West Bank which is ruled by an unratified government set up by President Mahmoud Abbas, and where Israel conducts nightly arrest raids.

On Tuesday however Hamas spokesman Salah al-Bardaweel seemed to hint that the Islamist group was prepared to give up on its demand for the truce to include the West Bank, when he said Israel should not be allowed to respond in the Gaza Strip to a 'distinguished' attack against Israeli targets in the West Bank.

But Haniya said Wednesday that the truce 'must emphasize the geographical unity of the Palestinian land and people.

The deal also had to include agreement by Israel to lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip, tightened last June when Hamas gunmen routed forces in the salient loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel has intensified the siege in response to intensified rocket attacks from the salient, although it allows trucks carrying humanitarian aid through.

Hamas has long angled for a truce, but Israel is hesitant, fearing the militants will use the time to rearm and reorganise. Israel is also loathe to be seen as having even indirect contacts with Hamas, which it boycotts over the organizations refusal to change its charter to recognize the Jewish state's right to exist.

Although former US President Jimmy Carter said Monday Hamas was prepared to live in peace alongside Israel, exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal was quick to add that the movement was only interested in a 10-year truce and would not recognize Israel.

Haniya said Wednesday that while Hamas was prepared to accept a Palestinian state in the borders which existed before the 1967 war, but stressed that this did not mean recognition of the Jewish state.