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Deal is only for Gaza: Israel

DUBAI: Israel has confirmed that a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, would take effect at 6 a.m. on Thursday.

“If the fighting indeed ceases on Thursday as planned, Israel will ease its blockade of Gaza next week,” said Israel’s spokesman Mark Regev. The truce is the result of Egyptian mediation, which lasted at least two months. Israeli officials have emphasised that talks for the release of Cpl. Gilad Schalit, captured two years ago by militants during a cross-border raid, would intensify in the wake of the ceasefire.

They also stressed the deal would protect their citizens from rockets fired by militants from the Gaza strip. According to the Israeli defence officials, the deal would be confined to the Gaza Strip. Israel defence forces chief Gabi Ashkenazi said the Army would persist with its operations in the West Bank.

The mechanics of implementing the ceasefire are not entirely clear. According to reports, the first benchmark is the observance of three-day calm from Thursday.

This would be followed by the easing of the Israeli siege, thus resulting in the flow of raw materials and goods across the Israel-Gaza border crossings. A few days later, Egypt would intensify dialogue seeking Cpl. Schalit’s release.

The opening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which is one of the goals of the agreement, would depend on two factors.

First, the Israelis would want that talks on the release of Cpl. Schalit should make significant headway. Second, steps are taken to close the cross-border tunnels between Gaza and Egypt, which have been used in the past to smuggle weapons.

Contrary to the Israeli perception, Hamas leader Khalid Meshaal has said there is no quid pro quo on the lifting of the siege and Cpl. Schalit’s release.

He pointed out that the soldier’s freedom would depend on the release of Palestinian prisoners lodged in Israeli jails.

“The enemy tried...to merge the issue of Gilad Schalit with the truce. We rejected this and in the final Egyptian offer the two issues are not linked,” he said.

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