Israel Confirms Agreement to Gaza Truce With Hamas

The most recent Gaza ceasefire, in November 2006, broke down quickly.

Israel said on Wednesday it accepted an Egyptian-brokered truce with Hamas Islamists ruling the Gaza Strip but voiced scepticism the ceasefire involving all Palestinian militant groups in the territory would hold.

Western officials said Israel, which has sharply cut supplies to the Gaza Strip since the Hamas takeover last June, planned to allow in a slightly higher number of truckloads of goods starting on Sunday, provided the truce was still in place.

Amos Gilad, a senior Israeli defence official, said after returning from talks in Cairo that "an understanding" had been reached on a cessation of violence.

Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, told reporters: "Tomorrow (Thursday) at 6 a.m. (0300 GMT), the reciprocal and simultaneous calm ... will begin."

Gilad told Israeli media that Israel was prepared to give a ceasefire a chance -- while continuing preparations for possible military action should it fall apart.

A ceasefire would aim to end frequent rocket and mortar bomb attacks on Israel from the coastal enclave and Israeli raids and air strikes in the territory.

"We hope this means no more rockets will be fired by Hamas at innocent Israelis as well as lead to a better atmosphere for talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

Despite doubts among many Israelis and Palestinians, Washington hopes Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President President Mahmoud Abbas can reach a framework peace deal by the end of the year.

Haniyeh voiced confidence all Palestinian factions would respect the truce out of a sense of "national responsibility".

But Meir Sheetrit, Israel's interior minister and a member of its security cabinet, said he was "very sceptical" Hamas could enforce a ceasefire among the militant groups.

The truce does not cover the occupied West Bank. However, Abu Hamza, a spokesman for the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, said the group reserved the right to respond with force "even from Gaza" to any Israeli raids in the West Bank.

The most recent Gaza ceasefire, in November 2006, broke down quickly.

HARDSHIP

Israeli and Palestinian officials said that under the truce deal, the Israeli blockade that has caused deep economic hardship among the 1.5 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip, would be loosened gradually and partially.

Peter Lerner, spokesman for Israel's military coordinator for the Gaza Strip, said the plan was to boost supplies to the territory starting next week by an initial 30 percent from the 60 truckloads now entering per day.

"Initially it will be foodstuffs and other basic commodities. That could be expanded later to construction materials," Lerner said.

A Palestinian trade official dismissed the planned increase as "nothing".

Analysts said Israel, unwilling at this stage to launch a broad military operation in the Gaza Strip likely to cause heavy casualties in the densely populated area, and Hamas, interested in upgrading its weaponry, had a mutual interest in calm.

"Hamas ... sustained a lot of losses," said Yossi Mekelberg of London's Royal Institute of International Affairs, but added: "It's obvious (to Israel) that the military solution doesn't work. It provides only a partial solution."

Israeli officials said the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt was conditioned on a deal to free a captured Israeli soldier.

Meshaal said Gilad Shalit, seized two years ago by Gaza gunmen, would not be released unless Israel freed Palestinian prisoners on a list compiled by Hamas.