Middle East News
Syria's al-Assad says Hamas might accept ceasefire
Jan 14, 2009, 16:54 GMT
Damascus/Tel Aviv - Hamas, the Islamist group controlling the Gaza Strip, might support a ceasefire under certain conditions, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Wednesday in an interview broadcast by the BBC.
'They (Hamas) are for the ceasefire. But when we say ceasefire, we don't say ceasefire for just three days. It has to be sustainable,' said al-Assad.
The prime ingredient to making a ceasefire sustainable, he said, is Israeli respect for the ceasefire. That would mean Israel would have to abstain from targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders, launched from military helicopters or drones.
Al-Assad also said Israel would have to lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Syria acts as a refuge for several Palestinian leaders.
According to Ramattan, a Palestinian news service, Hamas officials have said they are interested in the Egyptian-backed ceasefire. However, no official Hamas statement was forthcoming.
The Egyptian proposal would call for an end to Israeli attacks on Palestinian-controlled areas and a controlled opening of Gaza Strip border crossings, along with a stop to the smuggling of weapons into the salient.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Middle East
- 1. Jerusalem prelate tells Arab Spring youth to have confidence
- 2. More than 100 killed in Syria ahead of ceasefire deadline
- 3. At least 43 killed in Syria, despite UN criticism
- 4. 19 killed in Syria as ceasefire deadline approaches
- 5. Pilgrims flock to Jerusalem for Easter, Passover
Older Talkback
