Palestinian groups deny Mofaz's statements over truce agreement

Palestinian groups denied what was stated by the Israeli defense minister Shaoul Mofaz over its agreement with the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas on a truce with Israel for a one month period. These groups reiterated "the possibility of accepting to attacks if Israel stops its atrocities, first."

The spokesman for the Islamic resistance movement Hamas, Sami Abu Zahri ,categorically denied reaching such an agreement. He renewed the movement's readiness to study proposals for a halt to attack operations in return for "total suspension of the Israeli aggression."

Abu Zahri said that there will be no truce without a price and a total commitment by the side of the Israeli occupation to halt its operation, together with having guarantees to this effect.

He also explained that Mofaz is not entitled to talk about Hamas's participation in the authority's establishments, stressing that dialogue with President Abbas dealt with "arranging the Palestinian house on the ground of dialogue with President Abbas, including legislative and municipal elections."

Mofaz had announced that Abbas had reached with Hamas and the Islamic Jihad movements an agreement to halt military operations for one month, noting in particular the possibility of Hamas's taking part in the Palestinian Authority establishments.