Olmert announces unilateral ceasefire in Gaza

Israel today announced a unilateral ceasefire in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel will halt its offensive in Gaza at 0000 GMT on Sunday but troops will remain and respond to Hamas fire.

Hamas however said it would continue fighting until Israeli troops left the enclave.

"If the Israeli military continues its existence in the Gaza Strip, that is a wide door for the resistance against the occupation forces," Osama Hamdan, a Hamas official in Lebanon told Al Jazeera.

Fawzi Barhum, a Hamas spokesman, said: "The Zionist enemy must stop all its aggression, completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip, lift the blockade, and open the crossings. We will not accept the presence of a single soldier in Gaza.

"The enemy's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire confirms that this is a unilateral war launched in one direction, from the enemy upon our people."

BBC News
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Times Online

Israel Declares Cease Fire; Hamas Says It Will Fight On New York Times - 1 hour ago By STEVEN ERLANGER JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel announced late Saturday night that the Israeli military would begin a unilateral cease-fire in Gaza within hours while negotiations continued on how to stop the resupply of Hamas ... Video: Gaza-West Bank divide grows - 17 Jan 09 AlJazeeraEnglish Israel calls a halt to its assault on Gaza guardian.co.uk