Israel says it will consider any agreement between Fatah and Hamas as both factions prepare to meet in Cairo, writes Michael Jansen
A HAMAS delegation is scheduled to arrive in Cairo today for discussions on a one-year ceasefire with Israel. Hamas has reportedly agreed to the deployment along Gaza’s border crossings of forces under the control of Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas, who heads the rival Fatah faction. These forces will co-ordinate their activities with Hamas.
Israel has reportedly agreed to consider any arrangement the two parties reach. Abbas cancelled a trip to the Czech Republic to travel to Cairo to finalise terms.
Movement towards accommodation on the ceasefire, was, however, contradicted by a claim of responsibility issued yesterday by Fatah’s military wing, al-Aqsa Brigades, for the firing of three rockets into southern Israel.
Palestinian sources say sporadic rocket and mortar fire is a consequence of the power struggle in Strip. Although Hamas secured the agreement of all factions except Fatah’s al-Aqsa Brigades ahead of proclaiming a unilateral ceasefire on January 18th, some smaller groups have also been involved in the 30-odd rocket and mortar firings since the truce was declared.
Smaller factions seek to sustain pressure on Israel to lift the siege and blockade of Gaza. But analysts say al-Aqsa could be violating the ceasefire to invite Israeli retaliation. This would exert pressure on Hamas to capitulate to Fatah’s demands ahead of reunification negotiations set for February 22nd.
The people of Gaza are alarmed by the deterioration of the ceasefire and fear the resumption of Israeli air, land and sea attacks. Most believe they have already suffered enough and lost too much to be subjected to another Israeli onslaught.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) published figures on losses during the 23-day Israeli offensive.
The PCHR, which is supported by Trócaire and Front Line, said 1,285 Palestinians died, 82.6 per cent of them civilians. Of the 1,062 non-combatants, 895 were civilians and 167 were civilian police, 281 were children and 111 women. There were 4,336 wounded, 1,133 of them children.
Some 2,400 homes were completely destroyed; 490 targeted by air strikes.
Twenty-eight public buildings housing ministries, municipal offices, governorates, and parliament and 60 police stations were destroyed.
Twenty-nine educational institutions were destroyed or damaged. Thirty mosques were destroyed and 15 damaged; the offices of 10 charitable societies were devastated. Five cement factories were destroyed as were juice and ice cream plants; buildings housing health and media offices were destroyed; 21 private restaurants, wedding halls, tourist resorts and hotels were wrecked. The fishing harbour was bombed and Gaza’s farmland was razed.
Other sources estimate that 60,000-75,000 dunums of Gaza’s 175,000 dunums (44,000 acres) of agricultural land were put out of production; 13,000 farming families lost their livelihood. The Strip’s food output fell from 50 per cent to 25 per cent of consumption. Israel laid waste to the World Bank-funded sewage treatment plant and the industrial estate where Palestinian workers once produced goods for the Israeli market. Electricity installations, water pumps and pipes were destroyed.