Hamas truce limited in scope: Israel

JERUSALEM: An Israeli cabinet minister has played down the significance of indirect truce talks with Gaza’s Hamas rulers, suggesting any ceasefire deal would be limited in scope.

Yoav Galant’s assessment appeared to fall short of what officials from the Islamic militant group Hamas have described as Egyptian efforts to broker a comprehensive agreement, including a significant easing of an 11-yearold border blockade and UN-led reconstruction of Gaza.

Galant said at issue was a ceasefire, not a full-scale agreement.

“There is no process toward an agreement,” he told Israel Army Radio yesterday, a day after Israel’s Security Cabinet discussed Gaza proposals for several hours.

The difference in perceptions suggests chances for an agreement are slim. Tensions have escalated since March when Hamas launched regular mass protests along Israel’s perimeter fence with Gaza. The protests have been aimed, in part, at trying to break the blockade, imposed by Israel and Egypt after Hamas seized the territory in 2007.

Over the past four months, 158 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, including at least 120 in the protests near the fence and others in Israeli air strikes and other incidents elsewhere in Gaza. Twenty-four of the slain protesters were minors, the Gaza Health Ministry said. One Israeli soldier was killed by a Gaza sniper.

Israel has rejected accusations of unlawful use of lethal force, alleging Hamas used the protests as cover to carry out attacks and infiltrate into its territory. Some protesters throw stones, burn tyres, try to cut the fence or set off incendiary balloons and kites to set fires in Israel.

In recent weeks, Israel has further tightened Gaza restrictions.

Galant said the Security Cabinet discussed easing the latest restrictions, in exchange for a truce. Hamas is desperate to end the blockade which has led to growing hardships in Gaza. – AP