LOC12:37
09:37 GMT
GAZA, Jan 9 (KUNA) -- The arrangements to enforce a ceasefire along the
Gaza-Israeli border are faltering, but the Israeli deterrent factor is still
in place, a senior Israeli Army officer said Sunday.
The officer was quoted by Radio Israeli saying Hamas was trying to stop
assaults on Israeli territory but is facing difficulty controlling the actions
of the many thousands of its members, and it also turns a blind eye to these
at times.
Islamic Jihad, not Hamas, fired mortars last night which left three foreign
workers in the Negev area injured, he added. He considered a major
confrontation with Hamas unlikely, but still cautioned a grave incident on the
border could spark such fire.
This is the first official Israeli confession to any "arrangement" for
ceasefire in Gaza.
Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahhar had last December announced the group's
commitment to ceasefire as long as Israel kept its word in the bargain.
The army's southern territory command vowed vengeance for yesterday's
mortar attacks.
Islamic Jihad's Quds Brigades meanwhile claimed responsibility of the
bombardment of Nahal Oz, east of Gaza, with six mortar shells.
No party has yet claimed responsibility for another missile attack
yesterday.
An Israeli soldier had been killed Friday during confrontations with
Palestinians trying to plant explosives along the border. Israeli reports
indicated a "friendly fire" incident and halted use of a mortar weaponry
system for fear of technical malfunction.
Senior Israeli officials recently threatened a new onslaught on Gaza Strip,
along the lines of Operation Cast Lead a year ago, to stop mortar and missile
attacks on southern Israel.(end)
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KUNA 091237 Jan 11NNNN