Rockets fly as Hamas talks of extending Gaza ceasefire

SEVERAL ROCKETS fired from Gaza struck Israel yesterday after a senior Hamas figure declared the movement is prepared to consider extending a six-month ceasefire into a long-term truce.

Dr Mahmoud Zahar said Hamas's conditions for renewing the ban on rocket and mortar fire were that Israel lift the blockade and stop military operations in the narrow coastal enclave. The ceasefire, brokered by Egypt in June, ended last Friday with a barrage of missiles from Gaza into Israel, wounding an Israeli, and an Israeli air-strike on Gaza, killing a Palestinian fighter. On Monday, Hamas and its allies observed a 24-hour halt of hostilities.

Dr Zahar's comments were published in the semi-official Egyptian daily al-Ahram48 hours before Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni was set to meet Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak who is eager to secure another ceasefire.

By proposing resumption, Dr Zahar contradicted the orders of Damascus-based Khaled Mishaal, head of the movement's politburo.

But Dr Zahar has to deal with a popular desire in Gaza for an end to hostilities. However, Hamas is in a bind. Gazans also want Hamas to exert pressure on Israel to allow freedom of movement of people and goods into and out of Gaza.

As interlocutor in Egyptian-sponsored reconciliation talks between Hamas and Fatah which administrates the West Bank, Dr Zahar intended to participate in a key session in November but was told to stay away by Mr Mishaal. This was also an unpopular decision. Most Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank want to end the rift, sparked by Hamas's victory in the January 2006 parliamentary election, and unification of ranks to confront the Israeli occupation.

During the past month, Israel has tightened its siege, allowing in only bare necessities and halting the flow of diesel for vehicles and generators, as well as fuel for the power station. The shortage of fuel is acute because Egypt has also interrupted the supply of diesel through tunnels connecting southern Gaza with Sinai.

Last week, UN food distribution to 750,000 of the 1.5 million Gazans was suspended due to a lack of flour. Cash assistance to 94,000 poorest of the poor was also frozen. A UN spokesman said an escalation of hostilities would be a "recipe for disaster" in Gaza.