Hamas and Fatah agree to cease-fire

[oberliner]

GAZA CITY (CNN) -- Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah agreed to a cease-fire late Monday in a bid to end four days of violence that killed at least 29 people in Gaza and the West Bank.

The cease-fire, announced by Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, began 3 a.m. Tuesday (7 p.m. Monday ET).

In the hours before the deadline, gunfire and explosions could still be heard in Gaza City.

The agreement calls for both sides to withdraw their armed militants from the street, except for Palestinian police, and stop all clashes, as well as refrain from making inflammatory comments.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/01/29/hamas.ceasefire/

[brettdale]

1. again

How many ceasefires have there been?

[barb162]

2. Many and they haven't lasted very long

[breakaleg]

3. Good to hear. I hope it lasts.

[Violet_Crumble]

6. So do I...

Not holding my breath on it, though...

[Eugene]

4. Hamas, Fatah Battle Despite Cease-Fire (AP)

Hamas, Fatah Battle Despite Cease-Fire


Tuesday January 30, 2007 3:46 AM

AP Photo JRL112

By IBRAHIM BARZAK

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Palestinian infighting raged in the Gaza Strip Tuesday
morning despite a cease-fire declaration by warring Hamas and Fatah factions aimed
at ending factional clashes that have left more than 60 dead in the past two months.

Gunfire and explosions were audible in downtown Gaza City as gunmen from the rival
factions ignored the cease-fire, reached at a midnight meeting between Prime Minister
Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas and a representative of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
of Fatah.

The truce was set to go into effect at 3 a.m. local time.

Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar of Hamas announced the agreement early Tuesday.
Zahar said the agreement stipulated that all security forces must return to their
bases, that suspects in killings were to be handed over, and that all hostages still
being held - a number thought to be in the dozens - were to be released. He also
said all roadblocks set up by the factions were to be removed.

None of those steps appeared to have been taken after the 3 a.m. deadline passed.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6380224,00.html

[Eugene]

5. Gaza truce takes hold, but gunmen still on streets (Haaretz)

Last update - 08:01 30/01/2007
Gaza truce takes hold, but gunmen still on streets
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and Agencies

Rival Palestinian factions held their fire as a truce began on Tuesday but gunmen remained
on the streets of the Gaza Strip, witnesses and security sources said.

Despite reports of scattered gunfire, the witnesses said no major violence was reported as
of 3 A.M. (0100 GMT), the time set for the truce's implementation after Prime Minister Ismail
Haniyeh of Hamas met a senior aide to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah
in a bid to stem a surge of fighting.

Earlier, gunfire and explosions were audible in downtown Gaza City as gunmen from Fatah and
Hamas appearently ignored the cease-fire.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/818991.html