March 13, 2009

Hamas condemns rocket fire

Per BBC, a recent round of rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel has drawn a warning from Hamas leaders to those responsible. The attacks were "ill-timed," Hamas said in a brief statement, claiming it had nothing to do with the rockets and would seek out those who fired them.

Hamas is in the middle of Egyptian-brokered talks to achieve a long-term ceasefire with Israel. The cessation of rocket fire — which killed 20 civilians in the last 8 years — is one of Israel's conditions for making a deal. Hamas wants Israel to lift its border blockades which are preventing humanitarian supplies from reaching the impoverished region.

Some Twitterers responded to the Jerusalem Post's coverage of the events.

@JerusalemBureau (Jerusalem): @raffale What I don't know = why the #Israeli press now reports on #Hamas stoppng #Gaza rockets. Maybe bcz it wants new truce with #Hamas



@JerusalemBureau (Jerusalem): It's a rhetorical question @raffale The reason why #Israeli reporters didn't report it b4 bcz it'd make #Hamas look sincere #gaza #palestine



@raffale (Las Vegas, NV): @JerusalemBureau have you tried ask Israelis?...:) #israel #middle east #gaza #palestine


@JerusalemBureau (Jerusalem): ?? Why is #Israeli press reporting on #Hamas trying to stop #Palestinian rockets as if this were new? RT @pa5fn: http://tinyurl.com/b35kqh


Others pointed to the continued hostilities since each side declared ceasefires in January.

Al Jazeera wrote that the Israeli military has reported 176 missiles have hit since the cesssation of fighting, though none fatal. Meanwhile Israel continued air strikes on Gaza tunnels.


@DeTocqueville: Since the end of hostilities in Gaza, Hamas has fired 160 rockets. So much for peace.




@Jew4palestine: RT @AntoniaZ: RT codepinkalertrt @Kim1811: We just heard bomb blasts. Isreali F16s are dropping bombs on Rafah. #gazacp #gaza #iwd #israel


Some looked to put the issue in historical context.

@markc (Marouba, Australia): @cameronreilly They did. It was called the Balfour Declaration http://is.gd/e1aI (expand)



@cameronreilly: @markc if Israel accepted the two-state solution that the UN has been pushing for since 1975, maybe Hamas wouldnt send the rockets.

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