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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Gaza groups will not renew truce | Gaza groups will not renew truce |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Palestinian militant groups in Gaza say they are not expecting a six-month ceasefire with Israel which expires on Friday to be renewed. | Palestinian militant groups in Gaza say they are not expecting a six-month ceasefire with Israel which expires on Friday to be renewed. |
| The Egyptian-brokered deal began on 19 June but has been tested regularly by Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel and Israeli operations in Gaza. | The Egyptian-brokered deal began on 19 June but has been tested regularly by Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel and Israeli operations in Gaza. |
| Israel has said it is in favour of renewing the truce. | Israel has said it is in favour of renewing the truce. |
| The Islamist militant group Hamas says Israel failed to ease its blockade on the Gaza Strip. | The Islamist militant group Hamas says Israel failed to ease its blockade on the Gaza Strip. |
| Israeli officials insist they never made a commitment to do so. | Israeli officials insist they never made a commitment to do so. |
| Both sides have accused the other or regularly infringing the truce. | Both sides have accused the other or regularly infringing the truce. |
| Escalation? | Escalation? |
| There had been much speculation about the possible of the renewal of the ceasefire.Fighting has intensified in recent weeks, ending the truce in all but name | There had been much speculation about the possible of the renewal of the ceasefire.Fighting has intensified in recent weeks, ending the truce in all but name |
| But a statement issued after a meeting of Palestinian factions and Hamas in the Gaza Strip said negotiations were not ongoing as the expiration of the ceasefire neared. | But a statement issued after a meeting of Palestinian factions and Hamas in the Gaza Strip said negotiations were not ongoing as the expiration of the ceasefire neared. |
| "No mediator has approached us to extend the ceasefire so based on this... [after 19 December] we will respond to any Israeli aggression," the communique said. | "No mediator has approached us to extend the ceasefire so based on this... [after 19 December] we will respond to any Israeli aggression," the communique said. |
| Earlier, a Gaza-based spokesman for Hamas, Fawzi Barhoum, said there was "no possibility" of renewing the truce. | Earlier, a Gaza-based spokesman for Hamas, Fawzi Barhoum, said there was "no possibility" of renewing the truce. |
| "We at Hamas have the right to respond to any Zionist aggression against the Palestinian people. It's a national duty," he said. | "We at Hamas have the right to respond to any Zionist aggression against the Palestinian people. It's a national duty," he said. |
| Speaking to Israel's Haaretz newspaper, Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the ceasefire had been beneficial. | Speaking to Israel's Haaretz newspaper, Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the ceasefire had been beneficial. |
| "Of course the tahadiyeh (calm) was not a mistake," he told Haaretz. | "Of course the tahadiyeh (calm) was not a mistake," he told Haaretz. |
| "If the quiet continues, there will be quiet. If the calm breaks, we will operate." | "If the quiet continues, there will be quiet. If the calm breaks, we will operate." |
| The BBC's Katya Adler, in Jerusalem, says at the moment there has been no mention by Palestinians of escalating the violence. | |
| However, there have been regular outbreaks of violence in recent weeks. | |
| Palestinian armed factions have fired more than 40 rockets at Israel over the Gaza border this week, according to Israel's military. | |
| No-one was killed but a number of people were injured. Israel has responded with airstrikes, killing one Palestinian. | |
| Mr Barak has spoken of a possible ground invasion, our correspondent says, but made it clear he sees no urgency. |