Israeli Military Ops In Gaza To Cease 19 June 2008

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Terrorist activity and Israeli military operations in Gaza to cease on Thursday

"If the fighting indeed ceases Thursday as planned, Israel will ease its blockade of Gaza next week," government spokesman Mark Regev said. At the same time, talks to release abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit will intensify, Regev said.

"Thursday will be the beginning we hope of a new reality where Israeli citizens in the south will no longer be on the receiving end of continuous rocket attacks," Regev said. "Israel is giving a serious chance to this Egyptian initiative and we want it to succeed."

Amos Gilad, head of the Defense Ministry's Diplomatic-Security Bureau: "If the firing of Kassam rockets continues, it will constitute a violation of the cease-fire, and the IDF is also prepared for this situation, regardless of where the Kassams come from, from Hamas or Islamic Jihad."

Meanwhile, Palestinian gunmen opened fire Wednesday morning (18 June) on a group of Israeli civilians engaged in engineering works near the border fence. None were injured. The fire resulted in the closing of the Nahal Oz fuel terminal, through which Israel supplies the people of the Gaza Strip with fuel and cooking gas. Kassam rockets fired from Gaza also landed in the western Negev.

ENDS

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