Perilous Times
Palestinians shoot 24 missiles, 10 mortars from Gaza after Israel
confirms ceasefire
June 18, 2008, 9:14 PM (GMT+02:00)
They were aimed in all directions Wednesday, June 18, shortly before
the six-month truce confirmed by Israel takes effect Thursday 0600
hours local time. Homes and vehicles took direct hits. Sderot's streets
are deserted by despairing citizens who have nothing by skepticism for
the ceasefire's prospects.
Hamas leaders said after six months, this "first phase" of the informal
truce brokered by Egypt it would be extended to the West Bank. They
stressed it is separate from negotiations for the release of the
kidnapped Israel soldier Gilead Shalit, which will only take place in
exchange for the full list of jailed Palestinians presented to Israel
some months ago.
Hamas expects all the Gaza-Israel and Gaza-Sinai border crossings to be
reopened. This would amount to the lifting of the blockade imposed on
the Hamas-ruled territory.
After the upcoming truce was announced, 8 Qassam missiles were fired at
Israel, followed by another three Wednesday morning. They all exploded
harmlessly on open ground.
Senior Israeli officers commented early Wednesday, June 18, that the
longer the ceasefire endures, the stronger Hamas will emerge and the
more dangerous and problematical. The Israeli intelligence research
director Brig. Yossi Baidatz said Tuesday that Hamas had sought a
ceasefire in Gaza after 350 of its terrorists had been killed and was
skeptical of a negotiated ceasefire holding up.
Hamas' endorsement of the truce is not binding on its terrorist allies,
the Iran-backed Jihad Islami and the radical Palestinian "Fronts."
Neither is the terrorist group barred from continuing to build up its
military strength with the help of war materiel from Iran and Syria
smuggled through Sinai.