Eight Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have in Damascus refused to sign any agreement for a truce in the Gaza Strip before all crossings are opened and food is allowed in. They said in a statement: “We oppose all regional, international or Israeli security arrangements that target the stability and the rights of our people and their heroic resistance.” This came as Israeli warplanes in the early hours of Friday bombarded the tunnels in southern Gaza near the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in a new violation of the cease-fire declared 11 days ago. Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said they fired three mortar shells at an Israeli in central Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, the U.S. envoy for the Middle East George Mitchell and the Quartet Committee envoy Tony Blair after meeting with President Hosni Mubarak yesterday declared their support for the Egyptian efforts to reach a cease-fire. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said that Hamas has reduced the Palestinian cause to the Rafah crossing and that it is seeking legitimacy for its rule through their presence on the border port.