Hamas Okays Truce, Delays Announcement

Declining to say when it would be declared, Sheikh Yassin said the ceasefire would carry conditions and timeframe.

"We are still in contact with the rest of the factions in order to reach a joint formula to be signed by everybody," he said.

Shortly afterwards, Abdel-Aziz Rantissi, a prominent Hamas leader, told Al-Jazeer TV channel that a "truce or a suspension of fighting has not been declared, as there are still discussions under way."

Submitted To Egypt

In exclusive statements to IslamOnline.net, Rantissi said Hamas decision on the negotiated truce, which would be made public within two days, has been submitted to Arab parties concerned, in reference to Egypt.

He made clear that the decision taken found agreement among all Hamas members in and outside Palestinian-ruled areas as well as in Israeli jails.

Declining to disclose the content of the document, Rantissi told IOL his group had taken a long time to declare its stance, given the fresh developments on the Palestinian scene after Sharm El-Sheikh and Aqaba summits.

During the summits, both attended by U.S. President George W. Bush, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas denounced "violence and terrorism" and vowed to end "the militarization of Intifada", drawing fury of resistance factions who deemed the statements too conciliatory to Israel and a bow to U.S. pressures.

Asked if Hamas’ stance was affected by growing U.S. pressures and the expected visit of U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice or the recent Israeli military attacks against its members, Rantissi said "Hamas only concern is liberating occupied Palestine and defending the Palestinian people."

Four Palestinians, including a son and a brother of a Hamas military wing member were killed earlier in the day, as reports made the rounds that a cease is to be clinched by Palestinian factions very soon.

Hamas leaders said shortly afterwards the attack would in no way be a bargaining chip.

"The enemy does not stop its attacks, and we have not halted our resistance operations," said Rantissi.

On Jordanian King Abdullah II’s statements that Hamas would loose if shunning the ceasefire proposal, Rantissi told IOL that "many people do not understand Hamas well.

Asked if the views of ordinary Palestinians were taken into account by Hamas before forging its new decision, Rantissi said "everything has been taken into consideration."

‘Totally Biased’

Rantissi described the EU policy towards the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as "relatively moderate", unveiling contacts between the 15-member bloc and Hamas leaders abroad.

He praised in this respect the French stance as even more moderate than others, adding that Europeans "understand we are suffering under occupation and we have to resist it."

The Hamas leader lambasted the United States for being "totally biased" towards Israel and its continued aggressions against innocent civilians.

Responding to Bush’s call Thursday, June 27, for Hamas to be dismantled, Rantissi charged they were seeking to "ignite a Palestinian civil war."

The Palestinian Authority slammed the dismantling call as "a flagrant call for a civil war that is rejected by the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Authority and by the factions, and it will never happen."

Abbas had earlier made it clear that he does not want to collide with resistance factions, but rather persuade them to accept a truce.

"They will never succeed to dismantle Hamas," Rantissi vowed, saying that the dismantlement of the group would give birth to new resistance organizations.

"If Palestinians took up resistance themselves, they would seek preparation, weapons and funds as well as leadership, the same elements leading to the creation of a resistance organization," he added.

‘Not Exhausted’

The Hamas leader repudiated claims that Palestinians are now too "exhausted" to support Intifada with continued Israeli aggressions on their areas.

"The Palestinian street could well express itself through demonstrations in solidarity with resistance and tens of thousands turning up in funerals," of martyrs, Rantissi recalled.

He referred to recent elections conducted by the U.N. Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in which "Hamas won 100 percent votes for the executive committee.

"It is enough conclusive demonstration of the pulse of the Palestinian street."