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Israel Must Stop Gaza Blockade – HAMAS Spokesperson

Politics Materials 21 April 2008 20:20 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, 21 April / Trend corr R. Hafizoglu/ Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement HAMAS put forward two terms for peaceful negotiations with Israel, Mushir al-Masri, HAMAS Spokesperson, said to Trend on 21 April.

According to the Spokesperson, first of all, Israel must put an end to the Gaza blockade. "If Israel's intensions for peaceful negotiations are sincere, it must stop the Gaza blockade," al-Masri said in a telephone conversation from Gaza on 21 April.

He added that HAMAS' second term for Israel is to put an end to crimes against the Palestinians which have been ongoing for many years. "If Israel wants peace, it must be ready to make concessions," al-Masri said.

The Israeli government imposed a blockade on Gaza city in December 2007 as a response to the rockets fired into its territory by HAMAS and other groups.

On 19 April, during his meeting with Halid Mashal, the leader of HAMAS political bureau in Damascus, the U.S. former president Jimmy Carter expressed his wish for rocket fire to Israel to cease and the release of Gilad Shalit, the captured Israeli soldier.

Some 13 Israeli soldiers are reported to have been wounded during the operations conducted by HAMAS on 19 April

HAMAS was founded in 1987 in Gaza by Sheik Ahmad Yasin for the release of Palestine territories. The organization won parliament elections in 2006 with a great majority of votes. At present, Gaza is controlled by HAMAS.

The west bank of Jordan River is under the control of the ruling FATAH movement founded in 1956.

The correspondent can be contacted at: [email protected]

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