Tentative Ceasefire Holds in Gaza

Hamas and Israel declare separate ceasefires in the Gaza Strip, as both sides claim victory in the three-week war.

Hello I’m Charlotte Bellis and you’re watching Newsy.com.

Two unilaterally declared ceasefires are holding into their second day, thanks to diplomatic talks lead by France and Egypt. Currently, Israeli troops are in the process of withdrawing from Gaza.

We’re following coverage of this story from FOX News, Welt Online, NBC and Globe Online.

FOX News speculates on when Israel will have all its troops out of Gaza.

“The militants in Gaza, Hamas, said Israel had one week to withdraw troops. Israel said it was going to do so on its own timetable but Israeli government officials say in 27 hours all Israeli forces will be withdrawn from Gaza. What is significant about that 27-hour figure? Well it coincides with the swearing in of Barack Obama.” (FOX News)

FOX adds that Gaza is number two on the list of President-elect Barack Obama’s priorities in his 100 hours in office.

The day before the ceasefire began, Germany’s Welt Online ran a story headlined “Exhausted Gazans desperately want ceasefire” where Ali Hassan, a father of five had this to say,

“We do not care how, we want a ceasefire. We want to go back to our homes. Our children need to go back to sleep in their beds. Enough is enough.” (Welt Online)

But NBC News highlights how fragile the ceasefire really is, looking at continued threats from the two sides.

“Israel says Hamas’ guerilla tactics didn’t work and that hundreds of Hamas fighters were killed. Israel also destroyed Hamas’ supply line; it’s smuggling tunnels to Egypt. Today a defiant Hamas spokesperson promised to rearm. Israel said if Hamas resumes its rocket fire, the Army will attack Gaza, again.” (NBC News)           

Hamas mouthpiece, the Palestinian Information Center declared victory over Israel, and then called for a war crimes probe against its neighbor. (Palestinian Information Center)

Israel’s Globes Online reports Hamas is vowing to rearm more massively than before the three week war.

“Do whatever you want,” said Abu Ubaida, a spokesperson for Hamas. “Manufacturing the holy weapons is our mission and we know how to acquire weapons. We won’t surrender to the pressure applied on us. Our rocket force was unaffected by the fighting.” (Globes Online)

Al Jazeera English estimates the cost of the conflict to Gaza over the past three weeks, putting it somewhere between $1.4 and 2 billion dollars. (Al Jazeera English)

Do you think the ceasefire will hold? Do you think Hamas will refrain from further rocket attacks into southern Israel?

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