Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh held meetings on Thursday with representatives of the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza and asked them to stop firing rockets and mortars at Israel. According to Hamas sources, both groups expressed willingness to assent to Haniyeh's request, but wanted to wait to see how Israel would respond to a proposed cease-fire. Meanwhile, Army Radio reported Thursday that the IDF is set to begin compiling a list of the economic sanctions to be imposed on the Gaza Strip following the cabinet's decision to declare Gaza and its Hamas government a "hostile entity." In addition, civil administration officials will lower the amount goods and currency allowed to enter the Strip to the bare minimum necessary to ensure the basic needs of the Palestinians.
The security cabinet's decision Wednesday to designate Gaza "hostile territory," a declaration preparing the way for a possible cutoff of gas and electricity supplies, coincided with the arrival of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for discussions with Israeli and Palestinian leaders ahead of the Middle East peace summit. Defense Minister Ehud Barak told the security cabinet the decision, which unanimously passed, was intended to weaken Hamas and strengthen Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and PA Prime Minister Salaam Fayad. Barak also said that no one could expect that the rocket attacks would end completely.