Hamas spokesman says truce with Israel could continue

Hamas spokesman says truce with Israel could continue (NSI News Source Info) GAZA - November 6, 2008: A spokesman for the military wing of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic group that controls the Gaza Strip, said on Thursday that a truce with Israel could be maintained if observed by Israel. "We will stick to the truce as long as our enemy observes it," said Abu Obeida. "On our part, this is not a sign a weakness or defeat, but a demonstration of respect for the needs of our people." He said any new aggression against Gaza would bring a response deep into Israel. Obeida said the six-month truce, which expires in December, could be extended with the lifting of Israel's blockade of Gaza and the re-opening of border crossings to let commercial and humanitarian supplies into the 1.5 million-strong Palestinian enclave. The Israel-Hamas truce was put into jeopardy late on Tuesday when Israeli troops went into the enclave to destroy a border tunnel which they said had been dug as part of planned operations to abduct Israeli soldiers. A Palestinian militant was killed in the clash that followed, prompting a mortar barrage of Israel by militants. Israeli airstrikes subsequently killed another six militants launching mortar and rocket strikes on Israel. The attacks subsided on Thursday. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said his country did not intend to violate the truce, but would act to eliminate threats to Israeli soldiers.