Israel and Hamas have agreed a truce
Israeli officials confirmed the start of the truce, but said Israel was "looking to see if this is serious".
A Hamas official said he was confident all militant groups in Gaza would abide by the agreement, brokered by Egypt.
Earlier at least six Palestinians were reportedly killed in Israeli air strikes in southern Gaza.
Israel said it had targeted "terror operatives".
Islamic Jihad said a missile struck a car carrying five of its members near Khan Younis. A sixth man died in a separate strike nearby.
Two-stage deal
Hamas took over Gaza in June 2007, driving out forces loyal to Fatah, the political faction led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Since then, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the international community have sought to isolate Hamas.
Israel declared the territory a "hostile entity" and has blockaded it in an attempt to pressure Hamas into stopping rocket fire from the strip into Israel.
The truce is due to come into effect at 0600 (0300 GMT) on Thursday.
This stage of the deal envisages a halt to hostilities and a partial reopening of Gaza's borders.
A second stage of the plan would focus on the return of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and on a deal to reopen the main Rafah crossing into Egypt.
Hamas official Ahmed Yousef told the BBC he hoped that the ceasefire would lead to a further opening of the crossing points from Israel into Gaza, and an increase in the number of supplies.
"I am confident that everybody will abide by what we've agreed. All the groups which went to Cairo gave their okay to the ceasefire. If anybody does anything, they will be doing it on their own," he said.
He said that the aim now was to push ahead talks on a prisoner exchange, as well as a new round of talks in Cairo between the rival Palestinian factions of Fatah and Hamas.
hahaha...
Yeah I know this this funny logic!
So how big is/was Palestine? It seems that most of the other neighbors in the region 'took' more land than the Jews did to create a homeland. From what little I know of the geography, no one else wanted the land, as it was a wasteland. Now that it has been developed into something, it is a hot item.
http://www.mideastweb.org/briefhistory.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Levant_830.svg
Jews have the right to exist in Palestine & to practice their religion & have access to their shrines...etc..BUT...as citizens/subjects of the country of Palestine. Just like the Christian citizens in Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Syria...etc. They are not allowed to take over the whole country, kill its original owners, change its name to Israel...etc.
I also don't mind if they want to establish a Jewish State....but NOT in Palestine. They have ALL the right to start their own Jewish state in any of the countries they were living in before they started to imigrate some 60 years ago.
Let's say that the USA would give them one of its states to start their own Jewish country there. I promise you that no Palestinean would go their to have a war with them. On the contrary, all the Arabs & Muslims would start to respect the USA & would support the Jewish State inside the USA!
Rumple, last I checked 'the children of Abraham' have a valid claim on history in the Holy Land. If we can't share that space we don't deserve heaven.
they also say: "who has his hands in the water, is not like who has hands in the fire"
If you & your family have enjoyed peace all your lifes (your hands are in the water), you will always be preaching "peace" and you will never understand why people (who have never known peace) (their hands are in the fire) will resort to war, most of the time. Have you ever thought that they may go to war because they have nothing else left to lose?
I wish that Europe, Russia & America have never agreed to kick the Israelis out and send them to invade a country called Palestine. I wish that those Israelis have stayed in their ghettos in Europe & the States. I will be gladly preaching "peace" with you, right now!
In the same manner, I understand the Irish struggle against British forces, the black South African struggle against the "white/European" invasion (which took place many decades ago)...etc.
Not to forget the Kuwaiti struggle against the Iraqi invasion in 1990 (or were the Kuwaitis "terrorists" for having a war against Iraqi forces?)
Oh he cheers it from a safe distance alright. He's what you Americans call "yellow"
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Most people on the front lines hate war, those behind the lines tend to cheer their side on from a safe distance.
"A single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic." - Joseph Stalin
I never mentioned, "sex"! You have a dirty mind, you naughty girl!
Yawn...Visiting www.qatarhappening.com
blowing up is just one of the means of the 21th century fighting, just like Nuclear wars.
"He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah" prophet Muhammed (pbuh)
You give yourself away with your violent sexual obsessions everytime. Like you insinuate yourself, only cowards talk, so why are you still talking?
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===================================== http://www.qatarliving.com/node/58409
"..truce by blowing.. "
I have no idea why are you so obsessed with this "blowing" business!
Where is the true perception of human nature in this person...i can see lost atheist.
Terrorism is game you play on your enemies but remember your enemies are not everyone's and dont expect us to call Hamas a terrorism or any other group you call.
Martyr for palestine is not only duty for Hamas but for everyone who knows the value of the holy land.
"He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah" prophet Muhammed (pbuh)
I said seems to be, if the shoe fits, wear it. I let people speak for themselves and you are speaking loud and clear.
Why don't you make everyone happy then Airsupply and go end this truce by blowing yourself up somewhere. You can take realsom with you.
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as "stupid, blind & domatic"! So you chose to attack people because they don't agree to your (wrongful) principals! Fine! This is another reason why there can be no peace!
QL, as most int'l media, has become a very pro-zionist ground where it is promoting for cowardness (if you don't fight for your rights, you are a "peace-hero", but if you defend/fight for your rights, you are a "terrorist"). These are very unhealthy principals that need to be highlighted & exposed, all the time.
The crime of Israel is very clear: they have invaded a country that is not theirs, they have killed the original owners of the land, they have committed the uggliest crimes against civilians, they have stolen homes, and they have violated all UN resolutions.
There are no hawks & doves when someone takes your home & kill your family. You are either man enough to go & fight back to defend your home & revenge the killing of your family (even if you were killed), or you are simply a coward!
You may invent a million scenarios & names (such as Oslo, Camp David, Hamas, Fatah, Labor Party, Likud Party, peace, terrorism, road-map, Gaza,...etc) but the big crime of Israel can never be forgotten, and the rights MUST return to their ligitimate owners, sooner or later!
This is why that such pro-zionist posts can never just pass by un-noticed as long as they are people who realize the Israeli crime, and the reason behind such posts.
My old man told me, you can't fight stupidity, it doesn't know when it looses ;)
You can't let blind dogmatic folks like RSO seems to be, ruin your perception of the true nature of humans that truly seek oneness with G-d.
Oh blah blah blah, here we go again...lets everyone go blow ourselves up! That will solve all the worlds problems cause there will be no one left.
You see why I'm a pessimist now Southland.
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why is it worthless ? when the west migrated jews from everywhere to Palestinian land , is that what you call worthless. they are right and its worth to martyr for their land.
its the Zionists who have always been obsticle to peace even after palestinians compromised alot.
I dont know what type of human being you are, you sound like free falling atheist.
"He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah" prophet Muhammed (pbuh)
I used to be an optimist, but QL has turned me into a pessimist in a lot of ways.
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Gypsy - I know you are an optimist and that's what'll take. Diplomacy is not about pessimism, its about optimism. That's why we keep trying, otherwise it really will never happen (I never thought I would see the Berlin Wall come down in my lifetime. I new it would, but not so soon).
Never happen Southland. As long as there's one person willing to "martyr" himself for a worthless, pointless cause, this war will continue. Why do you think all of the smart nations (including most of the Arab ones) stay away from it?
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Unfortunately, each and every thread/post that I see about the Palestinian Question, I see 100% (or nearly) blind 'hawk' statements coming from the pro Palestine camp on this site, endorsing violence (no in fact, promoting it as some justified 'eye for an eye' truth), lionizing Hamas and and Hezbollah, and calling for the elimination of the state of Israel (I am sure it was not/is not in any of the text books you read in school).
I say that because, it is obviously folks like yourselves (and these Israeli 'settlers') that has kept peace derailed for at least the last 15 years (since the Oslo Accords). I know from personal experience (being a student of IR in San Francisco and meeting many young intellectuals from Israel and Palestine) that most Israelis (not hawk Jewish groups in America) and most Palestinians (not hawk Palestinians being subsidized by Hamas and Hezbollah) want a peaceful resolution (as do the mothers on both sides that are tired of their sons being bred as soldiers and nothing more).
So the sooner you all start embracing the idea of the 'Two-State' solution the sooner there will be real peace in the region.
BTW - Self fulfilling prophesies will get you no where.
"Yawn...when you Visit www.qatarhappening.com"
I dont see any chance of Zionism keeping promise.
"He who does not thank people, does not thank Allah" prophet Muhammed (pbuh)
Yawn.
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"..goes and blows up "
Are you the same girl who always talk about "blowing up"?
"they abide by truces"...another typical lie
So far, since 60 years, your above statements has proven to be false!
These 'people' are blood thirsty since they decided to invade Palestine!
Princess Habiba,
Thank God there are still patriot people/groups like Hamas & Hizbullah
Welcome back Airsupply. First, they didn't "decide" to invade Palestine, the British placed them there. Secondly, they abide by truces until some "martyr" goes and blows up a cafe or launches a rocket at a bus.
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Darude
I know a few palestinians neither with hezbollah or hamas who would feel they did something worthwhile blowing up a few Isrealites. And these women come from some of the wealthiest families in palestine. So its not like they are living in poverty or anything.
What I find particularly troubling is that this attitude is being brought over to the west by them as well as support of hamas and hezbollah. Although both organizations go against their islamic beliefs completely.
Maryum : Umm Hasan bint Abdullah Alshabrawishi
"That is usually speculation"
any proof??? link? person? experience?
hmm if not hamas then Hezbulla
[img_assist|nid=73057|title=.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]
Could be, but the problem is Israel will retailiate, even if Hamas didn't order the attack. This is one of the problems with creating a "martyr" society, you can't always control your wanna be martyrs.
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please Gypsy
Who said every bomber has to be a hamas radical? That is usually speculation!
No one has proof! Could just be some palestinian pissed off at Israel.
Maryum : Umm Hasan bint Abdullah Alshabrawishi
Well Israel will abide by it, it's easy to tell an army to stop attacking, but the Hamas is a different story. You can't control radicals, if one person in the Hamas disagrees and decides to blow up a cafe, the whole truce is out the window.
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Really, what do you call the Global War on Terror and what is going on with Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Pakistan, etc. pillow talk?
but suddenly weapons of mass destruction "appeared" in Iraq & the country had to be destroyed.
After that, the next threat was Iran, but suddenly uranium was "found to be enriched" in Iran and the country is threatened to be attacked (to restore "peace in the region").
I think the Syrian president understood the lesson and decided to join 'the board' before they "discover" the Hydrogen bomb in his country.
Blah Blah Blah
Words mean so little and actions speak volumes
Maryum : Umm Hasan bint Abdullah Alshabrawishi
I think everyone in the region is on board (Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Egypt), save Iran.
Finally they had to do something diplomatically
If only this could be the start for something new piece between Jews and Palestinians and Jews and Arabs. But really I don't think so it is too much hatred between them