ISRAEL and the Islamic fundamentalist Hamas movement suspended their fighting yesterday as an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire took hold across the Jewish state's border with Gaza, despite doubts on both sides over the respite's duration.
"I hope this will stop the shooting, stop the dying. People want to feel safe and have a good life but the power is in Israeli hands, not Palestinian hands," said Raed al-Atamneh, a taxi driver in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun. He lost 19 re
latives to an Israeli tank shell in 2006.
In the rocket-riddled southern Israeli town of Sderot, just across the border from Beit Hanoun, a town official, Shalom Halevy, said: "We are very happy about this calming and we are interested in having quiet days.
"I truly wish the ceasefire would go on forever. But I am very sceptical. Unfortunately, what will happen is that after not so many days, we will get a shower of Kassam rockets and Hamas will more than make up for all the days they did not target us."
More than 400 Palestinians and seven Israelis have been killed in Gaza and southern Israel since Hamas seized control of the Strip in June last year. As tens of thousands of Israelis endured frequent rocket fire, Gaza's population of 1.5 million reeled from Israeli military operations and an economic blockade aimed at crippling Hamas.
Mr al-Atamneh said it had become impossible to make a living. "Our life is terrible," he said. The high price of fuel and the limited supply of rationing coupons issued by the Hamas government has caused many drivers to cut back to just one working day a week.
"I want to be able to sleep without the sound of shelling or warplanes," said Eman Mahmoud, a 22-year-old Gaza university student. "We have been living a nightmare but my dream is that this calm will continue."
Under the truce, the strictures on imports to Gaza are to be eased from Sunday, although it is not clear how quickly and to what extent. Israel has said it will not reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt unless Hamas releases Corporal Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier seized two years ago in a cross-border raid.
Naji Shurab, a political scientist at Gaza City's al-Azhar University, said: "There is a temporary interest of both Israel and Hamas in this ceasefire but there are many factors that could lead to its collapse.
"It is an unwritten agreement, there are no guarantees for it and Egypt doesn't have the power to back it up. Israel will not let Hamas develop its infrastructure and tools and means of resistance.
"Also, if Israel assassinates a Palestinian leader in the West Bank, what will be the response of the Palestinian resistance here in Gaza?"
The leaders of Hamas agreed in negotiations with Egypt that they would not respond from Gaza to Israeli army operations in the West Bank.
"I hope this ceasefire will last for its full six months and be renewed on a strong basis but this depends on there being a political vision, especially for the Palestinians," Mr Shurab said.
By accepting the pact, Israel has temporarily set aside the option of an all-out ground invasion of Gaza that was expected to cost the lives of many soldiers and Palestinian civilians.
Hamas's Izzedin al-Qassam armed wing said that it was ready to launch a military strike that "will shake the Zionist entity" if Israel does not abide by all the terms of the agreement.
Ehud Barak, the Israeli defence minister, said: "We don't know how long the ceasefire will last. We are on a collision course with Hamas, but there is logic in giving the ceasefire a chance."
Tal Mahatzili, of the Israeli farming community of Nir Oz, said she was afraid the tranquility on Thursday morning was "the quiet before the storm."
Breathing-space for Israel and for HamasTHE United States pressed for a truce to remove an obstacle in peace talks between Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
Israel wants to stem international criticism of its blockade strategy and fears a military push in Gaza would result in heavy casualties on both sides and may not end decisively.
By insisting the economic blockade be eased only gradually and partially, Israel minimises the immediate impact of the truce and maintains the flexibility to reimpose the sanctions. Israel's approach reflects its scepticism the truce will last. The army has been instructed to prepare for a large-scale Gaza operation.
The full article contains 770 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
