Hamas rejects Abbas plan for Gaza-first cease-fire - Haaretz - Israel News

Hamas rejects Abbas plan for Gaza-first cease-fire - Haaretz - Israel News: "Hamas' delegation to Egypt has rejected the draft of an initiative for a cease-fire between the Islamist organization and Israel, saying it must apply to the West Bank as well as the Gaza Strip.

Israel, meanwhile, killed five Palestinians over the weekend. The northern Negev was hit by six Qassam rockets fired from the Strip, causing no casualties.

During talks in Cairo, the members of the delegation - headed by Hamas deputy political leader Moussa Abu Marzouk - said they could not accept the current draft of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' 10-point cease-fire initiative.

According to the proposal, Hamas must first halt the firing of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel before the armistice is applied in the West Bank.

Hamas' Gaza spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, told Haaretz that Hamas informed the parties in Cairo that it will not agree to a distinction between the West Bank and the Strip. 'We've had a bad experience with the occupation. We will agree only to a total cease-fire both in the West Bank and the Strip.'" Read complete post here.