By Xinhua,
Gaza : The Islamic Jihad (Holy War) movement said Wednesday it will not obstruct Egypt’s efforts to broker a ceasefire between armed Palestinian groups led by Hamas, and Israel in Gaza Strip.
“The Islamic Jihad supports the principle of broad, mutual and coincident calmness which includes the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank and will not block the truce efforts,” said Ziad al-Nakhala, the movement’s deputy chief.
However, the Damascus-based leader said his movement’s commitment to the ceasefire will be subject to Israel’s commitment. “If the Zionist state commits any assassination crime in the West Bank, the movement will have the right to respond,” he said. The Egyptian efforts focus on reinforcing the ceasefire in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip first. Hamas seems to have accepted the offer and is now awaiting Israel’s decision that will be channeled via the Egyptian mediators.
Meanwhile, representatives of the Islamic Jihad, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) are now holding talks in Cairo with the Egyptian mediators.
The Egypt-hosted talks aim at securing a united and full Palestinian pledge to respect the ceasefire deal before Israel accepts it.