Hamas accepts a 24-hour holiday truce for Gaza
AP, GAZA CITY
Hamas yesterday agreed to observe a 24-hour humanitarian truce after initially rejecting such an offer by Israel, as fighting resumed and the two sides wrangled over the terms of a lull that the international community hopes can be expanded into a more sustainable truce.
Between the rival announcements Palestinian militants fired rockets deep into Israel, prompting it to resume an offensive aimed at destroying rocket launchers and cross-border attack tunnels used by Hamas.
Hours later Hamas said it would be willing to abide by a new 24-hour humanitarian truce ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the truce would go into effect at 2pm yesterday. The three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday is expected to begin today or tomorrow, depending on the sighting of the new moon.
Israel had offered a 24-hour truce late on Saturday, but Hamas — which has demanded the lifting of the Israeli and Egyptian blockade on Gaza, as well as the release of Palestinian prisoners — rejected it.
Israeli Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner did not say if Israel would hold its fire during the time requested by Hamas, but said troops would continue demolishing militant tunnels.
The 20-day war has killed more than 1,050 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel has lost 43 soldiers. Two civilians and a Thai worker in Israel were killed by rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza.
The military had earlier said about a dozen rockets were fired toward Israel since midnight — without causing casualties or damage — and that as a result it would “resume its aerial, naval and ground activity in the Gaza Strip.”
The Israeli military released a video showing a rocket being fired from what it said was a Gaza school.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/07/28/2003596096
WHO-Hamas
WHEN-
WHAT-agreement
WHY-24-hour humanitarian truce
WHERE-not given
HOW- international community hopes can be expanded into a more sustainable truce.
Keywords：
1.humanitarian truce 人道主義停火
2. wrangled over 爭吵
3.prompt 促使
4.blockade 封鎖
5.demolishing 拆遷
In my opinion, Israeli is a shameless country. It cannot bring disaster to those who are innocent. Besides, Palestinian and Israeli both have to obey the humanitarian truce. Although I don't think it would be helpful to them, I still wish they can do their best to follow. If the war continually conduct, the only thing that I am sure about is that it will not bring peace to the world but much damage and injury.
回覆刪除I think that even though there were conflicts between Israel and Palestine, they still didn't have to use the artillery shell to solve the problem, not to speak of the most of the victims are civilian and children. Both of the countries should be in charge of this terrible catastrophe. I hope that the big country like America or world organization could solve the problem between the two countries. After all, the civilian and children innocent. Not by the war, but sit down and change each one's opinions. This is what the government should do for their people.
回覆刪除Israel's bombing of Gaza has killed hundreds of innocent people. I think Israel and Palestine should stop the fire, or more people will injure in the conflict. Both sides should have to comply with the 24-hour humanitarian truce. I hope Israel and Palestine can cease-fire to avoid more injuries.
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