Truce rejected, peace far away

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-30-2008 14:14

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Monday the country is engaged in a "war to the bitter end" against Hamas in Gaza.

Meanwhile a senior Hamas leader rejected truce with Israel, unless all attacks on Gaza cease and the border crossings are reopened.

Hamas deputy head, Moussa Abo Marzouk talks during an interview.(CCTV.com)

Barak said Israel's massive air assault is to force Hamas to stop its "hostile actions" directed at Israeli civilians. Giving no details, Barak said the operation would continue and even intensify.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni also spoke out against Hamas. She expressed regret for the civilian casualties from the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, but said the area is paying the price "for what Hamas is doing."

Meanwhile Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a cabinet meeting in the West Bank town of Ramallah. Abbas condemned Israel's offensive and urged the international community and the Arab world to stop it.

Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President, said, "We condemn with the strongest terms this sweeping Israeli aggression against our people in Gaza and we call on the international community and the Arab world to stop this aggression. Two days ago, since the beginning of this attack, we called on all international and Arab levels, and will continue this call to stop immediately this aggression on our people in the Gaza strip."

Abbas also declared his intention to hold a meeting with all Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The meeting will try to come up with a united strategy to end the violence.

A senior exiled Hamas official in Damascus has rejected any talk of a new truce with Israel, unless all attacks on Gaza cease and the border crossings are reopened.

Moussa Abu Marzouk, Senior Hamas Official, said, "Nobody in Israel respected what we agreed about. But now if you ask me about the calm situation, we have to look at what kind of agenda of what we have to go to. Maybe to stop all kind of aggression, to open all the gates (means border crossings), to stop all the violence against the people of the West Bank also."

Marzouk said Palestinian militants have a right to strike back at Israel in response to its deadly assault on Gaza. He promised Hamas could retaliate anywhere and they can return aggression in the same way.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei