Hamas says no truce with Israel

[oberliner]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Hamas hardened its stance on Saturday after a new barrage of Israeli airstrikes killed five militants, saying it would not consider a truce and calling for more attacks on Israel.

The Islamic militant group also warned Israel that if it continued its 10-day air assault, it would threaten the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier nabbed last June by Hamas-linked militants. Shalit has not been heard from or seen since his capture.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate from the rival Fatah faction, has tried in recent days to revive a cease-fire with Israel. Under his plan, Gaza militants would halt rocket fire for a month to allow for negotiations on a more comprehensive truce that would include the West Bank.

After a meeting late Friday, the militant groups initially asked for 48 hours to consider the proposal and respond.

But after the rash of new air attacks Saturday, including five in less than an hour, Hamas called on its fighters to "direct painful strikes at the Zionist enemy." Hamas "will not offer a free truce to the Zionist occupation," the group said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070526/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians;_ylt=AvwHngnr.4BYHUQGSyBn7nnMWM0F

[aquart]

1. And dogs bark.

[oberliner]

2. But just recently there was talk of a truce

Now it's off the table. Not a positive development.

[Mudoria]

3. Hamas was really never interested in a truce to begin

with. It was good PR till they wanted to restart hostilities.

[oberliner]

4. PA: Hamas willing to accept truce if Israel ends attacks

Palestinian officials said Sunday that Hamas has informed Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas it is willing to accept a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip on the condition that Israel halt its attacks.

Hamas, meanwhile, is threatening to kill Gilad Shalit, the Israel Defense Forces soldier it abducted in June last year, unless Israel complies with its truce call.

The sources noted that Hamas would hold its fire only if it received proof from Israel that the IDF will bring its current strikes to a complete halt. In addition, the sources said Hamas officials were demanding that Israel include the West Bank in the cease-fire.

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/864051.html