Israel not committed to ceasefire

Ziad Zaza, a deputy to Ismail Haneya, head of Islamic Hamas movement's government, which rules the Gaza Strip, accused Israel on Friday that it is not committed to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire, which was reached in November and it is subjected to collapse.

Zaza said in an interview with Xinhua in Gaza that the Israeli government regretted pledges it had made when the ceasefire that Egypt had sponsored was reached on Nov. 21, mainly easing more than five years of an Israeli blockade imposed on Gaza since 2007.

The ceasefire ended an eight-day violence between Hamas and Israel, which left 185 Palestinians and six Israelis dead, and around 4,000 Palestinians wounded. According to the agreement, Israel promised to open the crossings and terminals with the Gaza Strip.

"The Zionist occupation hasn't implemented the agreement's provisions, mainly in lifting the siege, ending it and reopening all the crossing points in both directions," Zaza told Xinhua a month after the agreement was signed.

He revealed that one week after the truce was reached, he went to Egypt to follow up its implementation through indirect talks with Israel, adding that the indirect talks went on for several days and it was only a one-round talks.

"Israel took upon itself to allow the direct import of constructions raw-materials to private sector merchants in the Gaza Strip and not through international organizations as it used to happen over the past two years, and also allow all needed equipment and vehicles with no restrictions," said Zaza.

"They (Israelis) regretted their promise," he said, adding that Israel has not eased its blockade imposed on the crossing points, except expanding the area of fishing from three to six miles right after the ceasefire deal was signed.

Israel also said that the 300-meter no-go security area along the borderline between Israel and the Gaza Strip was removed, a matter that enabled Gaza Strip farmers to approach their farms closed to the fence of the borders between the Hamas-ruled enclave and Israel.

"In addition, Israel violated the ceasefire agreement and kept opening fire at the Palestinians near the fence of the borders and at fishermen in the sea," Zaza said, adding "Israel hasn't showed commitment to recognizing our territorial water in the sea."

The Hamas official also revealed that Hamas government wants the borders of the Gaza Strip to be exactly the borders right after the 1967 six-day war between Israel and Egypt ended, adding "The Egyptian mediator is exerting great efforts to pressure on Israel to be committed to its pledges."

The ongoing mutual accusations on violating the ceasefire, which enlarge distrust and would put the fate of the agreement in danger of collapse, mainly amid the repeated incidents on the ground such as limited Israeli ground forces incursions that killed two and wounded dozens of Palestinians.

"I believe that the Israeli practices on the ground would put the ceasefire agreement in danger and would be subjected to collapse," Zaza said. "We say to the occupation that it should fulfill its promise to the Egyptian mediator who should also exert more pressure on Israel."

He went on saying that it is illogic to sign an agreement "and then when it comes into practice, one party disrespects it," adding "the agreement was brokered by Egypt and was sponsored by the United States, when U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Egypt's foreign minister declared it."

Zaza did not tell what will be Hamas' reaction to the violation of the ceasefire. But he said "We hope that the Israeli occupation will start directly and immediately to implement the agreement and I believe that all the parties involved are following up the situation closely."

Right after the ceasefire deal was inked, Hamas announced that it won the battle and defeated Israel, mainly after its militants succeeded in firing long-range rockets that reached Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

However, Israel also said that its air forces succeeded in directing a powerful strike on the Islamic group and other less- influential factions in the Gaza Strip, as Israeli war jets carried out over 1,500 airstrikes on Gaza's military infrastructure.

Zaza also revealed that the direct losses after the eight-day Israeli aerial aggression has reached 500 million U.S. dollars while 700 million dollars in indirect losses, and this includes a large destruction of the infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

The interview with Zaza was held at a temporary governmental building that Hamas government is using after the armed conflict in November on the Gaza Strip, when the main headquarters of Hamas government was levelled. Closed to the temporary office, there is a destroyed police station.

A month after the ceasefire agreement had been reached; Zaza said that his government has not received any promises to rebuild the Gaza Strip, mainly after 130 Arab, Islamic and international delegations visited the enclave at the end of the battle.

Meanwhile, Zaza blamed Egypt for being reluctant to permanently reopen Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip for goods and individuals, adding that his government refuses the return of the European Union inspectors to Rafah crossing, who were present there before 2007.

He also said that his movement is still interested in and sticking to reconciliation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, saying that it "is a strategic choice for Hamas." He added that reconciliation and internal unity "should last forever."

"First, we have to prepare the ground and the atmosphere for a real reconciliation, mainly public freedom as well as political and economical freedom," Zaza said, adding "then we have to build up the security apparatuses and rebuild Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)."

Ziad Zaza

Deputy to Ismail Haneya

Head of Islamic Hamas movement's government