/ 29 June 2006

Report: Israel delays further moves in Gaza

Israel on Thursday postponed a planned incursion into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanun, apparently to allow negotiations to continue over the fate of a kidnapped soldier, media reported.

Any further movements into northern Gaza, where troops have already rolled across the border in a bid to free the conscript, have been delayed, public radio said.

An Israeli army spokesperson refused to confirm operations had been halted, but told Agence France-Presse “our forces have not entered the northern Gaza Strip and will be ready to do so when they receive the order”.

The delay was decided after talks between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Amir Peretz and security officials, and was prompted by an appeal from Egypt to let diplomacy run its course, the Haaretz newspaper said on its website.

“Mediators involved in contacts to help free [captured soldier Gilad] Shalit from Palestinian captivity told Haaretz that Egypt communicated to Jerusalem its wish that it allow talks to continue,” the left-wing Haaretz said.

“It should be noted that the IDF [Israeli army] has not completely ceased undertaking military activities in Gaza, but is rather halting any further offensive measures at this stage,” the report added.

The decision to cancel Thursday night’s planned operation followed international appeals for restraint, particularly from the United States, Russia, the group of eight of industrialized nations and United Nations chief Kofi Annan.

Earlier, media reported that Peretz had given the green light to further incursions in Gaza but also ordered monitoring of the Palestinian humanitarian situation, following international appeals to spare civilians from the military conflict.

“We are in one of the most significant moments with respect to deciding the rules of the game between us and terrorist elements in the Palestinian Authority,” Peretz was quoted as saying.

The reports gave no details on what sort of operations could be expected, but the army confirmed its air force had dropped leaflets on southern Gaza asking Palestinians to avoid confrontation with Israeli forces.

An official in the prime minister’s office promised “more of the same”, when asked about the military’s plans.

“We will continue, and even strengthen if necessary, our actions until the soldier comes back safely,” he told AFP on condition of anonymity. — AFP