Gazans get a ceasefire for 3 hours a day, but can Israel turn it into a long-term agreement…
Hello I’m Charlotte Bellis and you’re watching Newsy.com.
Israeli forces will halt military operations in Gaza for three hours a day to allow Palestinians to get the vital supplies they need. Israel also set up an aid route to allow humanitarian resources into Gaza. This all, as diplomatic talks continue to establish some kind of ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.
We’re following coverage of this developing story from Al Jazeera English, BBC, France 24, Al Arabiya and others.
An Al Jazeera English correspondent is at a bakery in Gaza during the 3-hour ceasefire. He details the desperation of Gazans not able to leave their homes for food or water until now.
“The scene all across Gaza’s bakeries has been like this one behind me, very tense as people wait for hours to get their hands on some bread… Certainly the people here are very concerned that after those 3 hours expire once again the fighting could start and mobility for them to make it this far and get to these bakeries would become that much more difficult.” (Al Jazeera English)The BBC talks to an Israeli government spokesman who explains why Israel established the 3-hour ceasefire and opened a supply route for humanitarian aid.
“We’ve got a situation where the crossings have been opened, food stuffs and medicines have been entering Gaza but because of the difficult combat situation, it has been a problem with distribution and I think the idea of the corridor is to allow a flow of food stuffs and medicines inside the Gaza strip, so they’ll reach the people we want them to reach.” (BBC)Mark Regev, Israeli government spokesman
France 24 says Israel decision to open the supply route will be limited and under strict security watch. The Israeli Defense Force is keeping a close eye on humanitarian trucks, fearing the Iranians may use the border opening to smuggle long-range missiles into Gaza.
(France 24)The Jerusalem Post reports on the possibility of a permanent ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, finding Israel is leaning towards an agreement but Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has conditions.
“…all terrorist operations against us must stop. The strengthening of the terrorist organizations via the smuggling of war material from Egypt into Gaza must also stop.” (The Jerusalem Post)France 24 believes that worldwide protests and the ever-rising death count on both sides of the war in Gaza, means Israel must make a decision soon.
“I think yesterdays shelling of that U.N school was a turning point in a sense and I think the Israelis are starting to realize the amount of international pressure now being placed on them in order to find a exit strategy in order to find a diplomatic solution before more suffering continues on both sides.” (France 24) Al Arabiya had a contrasting report, finding that …
“Israeli officials also said ministers would discuss a major escalation of their 12-day-old offensive that would push troops deep inside Gaza’s cities and refugee camps in their bid to end rocket salvoes into Israel…” (Al Arabiya)The New York Times has the view that it’s not up to Hamas or Israel to call a ceasefire. Columnist Thomas Friedman believes Gaza’s a puppet and Iran’s pulling the strings.
“Iran has deftly used military aid to both Hamas and Hezbollah to create a rocket-armed force on Israel’s northern and western borders. This enables Iran to stop and start the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at will.” (The New York Times)So do you think a ceasefire is on the horizon for Israel and Hamas? What will it take to draw a truce?
We invite you to leave your thoughts on our website and be sure to look at our sources for more information on this story.
I’m Charlotte Bellis…
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