By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East
TEL AVIV, Israel – On June 24, the Islamic Jihad fired several rockets into the southern Israeli town of Sderot. While there were no causalities, the rockets did cause damage to residences.
In claiming the rocket attack, the Islamic Jihad stated that the attack was in retaliation for the Israeli assassination of two members in the West Bank, which was not included in the Hamas-Israeli agreement. The Islamic Jihad also stated that the attack was exceptional and in response to a specific action.
This is the first challenge of the five-day old ceasefire effective in Gaza. In response to the “clear and grave violation” of the cease-fire agreement, Israel has closed its border crossings with Gaza. The crossings were to have opened at 8am on June 25.
Israeli military liaison official Peter Lerner said they would stay closed until further notice. “Any reopening will be in accordance with security considerations,” he told Reuters.
In addition, the International Middle East Media Center reports that Palestinian medical authorities confirmed that Salem Abu Raida, 80, was wounded with several live bullets in the shoulder fired by Israeli soldiers manning the borders. When he was injured, he was standing outside of his home, located close to the Israel-Gaza border. The incident occurred less than 24 hours after the rocket attack.
Not only does the rocket attack challenge the viability of the cease-fire agreement, but it also challenges the authority of the parties involved; especially Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Olmert.
Hamas must prove to Israel and the international community that it has control over Gaza in order to be included in future negotiations. However, it is also necessary for Hamas not to be seen as supporting the Israeli government. For example, Hamas’ reaction to the rocket attack was a cautious one: they condemned the Israeli killings in the West Bank, but at the same time, they called on Palestinians “to exercise self-restraint and continue observing the agreement.”
In addition, Prime Minister Olmert is facing a Knesset vote which would dissolve his government, bringing new elections, on June 25. Many analysts saw a successful cease-fire agreement as Olmert’s last chance to remain in office.
One minister in Olmert’s government stated, “If he thought that making peace was going to save him, he learnt a serious lesson — that you need two people to make peace, and not one desperate man… I think his time is up; the break in the truce was the last straw. The Knesset will not give him another break.”
For more information, please see:
International Middle East Media Center – Israeli Army Wounds an Elderly Palestinian in Southern Gaza – 25 June 2008
Reuters – Israel Closes Gaza Crossings after Rocket Attack – 25 June 2008
Times (London) – Ehud Olmert’s Leadership Faces Final Hours as Rocket Attack Threatens Ceasefire – 25 June 2008
Al Jazeera – Violence Threatens Gaza Truce – 24 June 2008
The Christian Science Monitor – Gaza Rockets Strain Israel-Hamas Truce – 24 June 2008
