Gazans Pin Hopes on New Truce Proposal, but Remain Skeptical
By JONATHAN S. Landay McClatchy Newspapers
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The residents of Gaza are pinning their hopes on a new truce proposal, but they remain skeptical that it will bring an end to the Israeli military offensive that has killed more than 1,000 Palestinians and displaced tens of thousands more.
“I hope it will be a real truce, not like the last one,” said Mohammed al-Ashqar, 30, a father of four who lost his home in the Israeli bombardment of the Jabalya refugee camp. “I hope it will bring peace and security to our children.”
The new truce proposal, which was announced by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday, calls for a cease-fire to take effect at 8 a.m. Tuesday, followed by the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the opening of border crossings.
The proposal also calls for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, the resumption of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, and the disarming of Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza.
The proposal was welcomed by the Palestinian Authority, which is headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, but Hamas has yet to respond.
“We are waiting for the details,” said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum. “We are not optimistic, but we are not pessimistic either.”
The Israeli government also has yet to respond to the proposal, but Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that he would consider it.
“We will examine the Egyptian proposal and we will respond to it,” Olmert said.
The Israeli military offensive, which began Dec. 27, has killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, including more than 300 children, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. More than 4,500 Palestinians have been wounded, and tens of thousands have been displaced.
The Israeli military says that more than 600 Palestinians were militants, but it has not provided a breakdown of the rest of the casualties.