Hamas sets terms for ceasefire with Israel

"GAZA (Reuters) - Hamas set out its conditions on Wednesday
for a ceasefire with Israel, calling for an end to all acts of Israeli
"aggression" in the Gaza Strip and West Bank and the
reopening of Gaza border crossings.

The terms mirrored proposals raised by Egyptian
mediators trying to piece together a truce deal, which would
also end Gaza rocket attacks on Israel by militants from
Hamas and other Palestinian groups.

Violence has declined sharply over the past week.
A ceasefire could foster progress in U.S.-brokered peace
talks between Israel and Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas, whose Fatah faction lost control of the Gaza Strip
to Hamas last June.

"There must be a commitment by Israel to end all acts of
aggression against our people, assassinations, killings and
raids, and lift the (Gaza) siege and reopen the crossings,"

Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas's administration in the
Gaza Strip, said in a speech. A ceasefire, he said, should be
"reciprocal, comprehensive and simultaneous," apply both to
the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and be approved by
other Palestinian factions.

"We will not abandon you, our people in the West Bank," Haniyeh
said. "Aggression against you is aggression against us."

Hamas had previously been vague about whether it would insist
on including the West Bank in any Gaza truce"

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