Israel continues closure of Gaza

The forces of Israel continued the closure of the West Bank and Gaza Strip for the third consecutive day, after the leadership of the Israeli Army announced that the Hamas movement intends to launch a major attack.

Map reported that this is the third time that Israel has imposed a closure on the Palestinian self-rule areas since the killing two weeks ago of two Palestinian brothers who were also Hamas activists.

Hamas also opposes President Arafat's approval of 10% as the scope for the Israeli second-phase redeployment, instead of 13%, on the basis that the remaining 3% will remain a nature preserve. Hamas calls for expelling Jews and declaring Palestinian sovereignty over all the territories occupied 50 years ago.

French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine also noted the scope of withdrawal as a problem in an interview this week, "The stumbling block is still this idea of a withdrawal of 13%, which is seemingly a little thing. In the normal course of events, according to the Oslo Agreement, it should have been 60%. That's still the stumbling block."

The Israeli closure of the Palestinian also comes as unrest in Hebron this week caused the wounding of Israeli soldiers and Palestinians.