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Israel Claims, Hamas Denies Gaza Truce

Posted on: Monday, 10 March 2008, 09:00 CDT

A drop in rockets launched from Gaza to Israeli targets has been attributed to the withdrawal of Israeli ground troops from Gaza, officials said.

However, the Israeli official said the position -- Israel will not attack Gaza as long as Hamas does not fire at Israel -- contradicted last week's cabinet decision of maintaining military pressure on Hamas, Haaretz reported.

The government official, speaking to Haaretz anonymously, said unofficial rules were developed last week during U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to the region, via messages exchanged by Israel and Hamas.

Hamas has denied such an understanding exists, The Jerusalem Post said.

Hamas' position regarding a tahdiyah (calm) has not changed, said Muhammed Nasr, a senior Hamas official in the Gaza Strip. Any tahdiyah must be mutual and comprehensive.

An Israeli military source said, For now, we are not really fighting Hamas. There is restraint, even if undeclared. Where things are really heading, we'll know only later.

Meanwhile, authorities said representatives from Hamas and Fatah have agreed to meet in Yemen soon to attempt to settle the power struggle that has engulfed the Palestinian territories the past two years.

Source: United Press International

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