Israel and Hamas call for Gaza calm

Ehud Barak plays down talk of ground offensive after missile attack on Israeli school bus and retaliatory air strikes Israel and Hamas have signalled they are looking to end a flare-up in violence that began four days ago with a missile attack on an Israeli school bus and has claimed the lives of 19 Palestinians. The fighting stoked fears of a larger escalation that could include an Israeli ground incursion into the Gaza Strip. But Ehud Barak, the Israeli defence minister, said Hamas had been hit hard in recent days and there may be a ceasefire. “If they stop firing on our communities, we will stop firing. If they stop firing in general, it will be quiet, it will be good,” Barak said on Israel Radio. Asked whether Israel was considering a ground offensive similar to that two years ago into Gaza, Barak said: “If it will be necessary, we will act, but when it’s not necessary, we don’t need to. Restraint is also a form of strength.” Hamas said it did not want a further escalation. “If the Israeli aggression stopped, it would be natural for calm to be restored,” said a spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri. “Calm will be met with calm.” Israeli police said another eight rockets were fired at Israel on Sunday. The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, said: “Our policy is clear, if the attacks continue on Israel’s citizens and soldiers, the response will be much harsher.” Violence erupted along the Israel-Gaza border on Thursday when Hamas gunmen fired an anti-tank missile at an Israeli school bus, critically wounding a teenager and injuring its driver. Israel launched a series of air strikes at targets throughout the Gaza Strip, killing 19 Palestinian militants and civilians. Gaza militant groups have fired at least 120 rockets and mortars at southern Israel in that time, the Israeli army said, several of which were shot down in midair by the newly deployed Iron Dome interceptor. The United Nations and the European Union have called for an end to the violence. One Palestinian source said Egypt was leading efforts to arrange a ceasefire. Analysts say Hamas is trying to divert attention from demands fuelled by pro-democracy unrest in the Arab world for an end to its split with the western-backed Fatah movement in the West Bank. Israel launched a military offensive into Gaza in December 2008 in an effort to end the cross-border rocket fire. About 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed in the fighting. Gaza Hamas Israel Palestinian territories Middle East guardian.co.uk

Posted by on April 10, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.