2008: Israel Agrees to Truce with Hamas on Gaza

19-June-2008

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olment and Defense Minister Ehud Barak agreed to an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire with Hamas for the Gaza area.

Mr. Zahar, the Hamas leader, said Israel would open the commercial crossings as soon as the truce came into effect. Two weeks later, he said, Egypt would host talks aimed at reopening the Rafah crossing on its border with Gaza. Mr. Zahar suggested that the Shalit case would be dealt with separately.

Mark Regev, a spokesman for the Israeli prime minister said “Words are important, but deeds are more so. If indeed there will be a total cessation of fire from Gaza, an end of the Hamas arms buildup and movement on Gilad Shalit’s case, then there will be a very new situation”.

Source: New York Times, 19-June-2008