Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad have announced an immediate three-month halt in attacks against Israel. Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a leader of Hamas, stated that the pause in military operations against what he termed the Zionist enemy begins today. This announcement was made from Gaza City amid reports from Israeli media that Israeli soldiers will begin withdrawing from the settlement of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip starting Monday. A general agreement regarding the Israeli withdrawal was reached on Friday during a meeting between Palestinian officials and the Israeli coordinator for the occupied territories. However, a senior Israeli official has rejected the announcement of a temporary ceasefire, stating that militants intend to use this pause to regroup and prepare for further attacks on Israel. The Israeli government has not officially responded to the ceasefire announcement. Earlier, Palestinian officials indicated that the ceasefire might be delayed by twenty-four to forty-eight hours to determine whether a third militant group, the Fatah movement associated with Yasser Arafat, would join the other two groups in the temporary ceasefire. The Associated Press reported statements from Fatah officials who said they are not yet ready to join the temporary ceasefire.
Ceasefire Announced by Hamas and Islamic Jihad - 2003-06-29
Hamas and Islamic Jihad have declared a three-month ceasefire against Israel, coinciding with an Israeli troop withdrawal from Beit Hanoun. The announcement has been met with skepticism from Israeli officials who believe it may be a tactic for militants to regroup. The situation remains fluid as Fatah's participation in the ceasefire is uncertain.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Hamas and Islamic Jihad announced a three-month ceasefire against Israel, coinciding with an Israeli troop withdrawal from Beit Hanoun. The ceasefire's effectiveness is uncertain as Fatah has not yet joined, and Israeli officials are skeptical.
- Ceasefire announced by Hamas and Islamic Jihad for three months.
- Israeli troops to withdraw from Beit Hanoun in Gaza Strip.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been ongoing for decades, with intermittent violence and attempts at peace. Ceasefires are often fragile and short-lived.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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