Dubai, Jan 09: Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmad Yassin said in remarks published today that his movement would not agree to a new truce that is not be respected by Israel and that it would not cease attacks on Israeli civilians as long as the Jewish state targets Palestinian civilians. "Hamas will not commit the same mistake in agreeing on a new truce with Israel which will not be respected by the latter," Yassin told Saudi magazine al-Majallah, published in London.
Yassin said, however, that his group was prepared for a new truce "on the condition that the countries that want this truce give guarantees" to Hamas.
These guarantees include "respect for the truce by Israel, and an end to the occupation and aggression against the Palestinian people."
Last June, Hamas and Islamic Jihad announced a three-month suspension of anti-Israeli attacks that was brokered by Egypt, but the Palestinian militant groups attached conditions and Israel said it placed no value on the ceasefire.
The unilateral truce collapsed on August 22.
In November, Egypt renewed efforts to secure a ceasefire. But the following month, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei suffered a blow when Hamas and Islamic Jihad blocked efforts at talks in Cairo to secure a truce, which he had hoped to use as a tool to bargain a reciprocal ceasefire with Israel. Bureau Report