Operation in Gaza: Statement by Israeli PM Ehud Olmert - January 17-18, 2009

Note: This post moved to top today from Saturday’s original posting

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Operation in Gaza:
Statement by Israeli PM Ehud Olmert
Saturday/Sunday, January 17-18, 2009
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Beginning at 2:00 a.m., Israel will cease its actions against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip...
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MFA file photo

PM Olmert had this to say in part...
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Beginning at 2:00 a.m., Israel will cease its actions against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip and will remain deployed in the Gaza Strip and its environs.
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Our targets, as defined when we launched the operation in Gaza, have been fully achieved, and more so.
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- Hamas was badly stricken, both in terms of its military capabilities and in the infrastructure of its regime.
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- The international community is ready to mobilize to achieve maximum stability, and knows that, for this to occur, the process of Hamas's strengthening must stop...
Read the Full Translated Transcript from Hebrew to English HERE
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IDF reports it this way...
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Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip...

Starting At 02:00am
Their time: Sunday, January 18, 2008

Photo: IDF Spokesperson
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Following the Security Cabinet’s decision on Saturday evening (Jan. 17) to accept the Egyptian proposal and the announcement of the unilateral Gaza Strip ceasefire, the IDF is currently taking the necessary measures to implement this decision.
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The Cabinet’s decision was reached after the IDF achieved the objectives it set for Operation Cast Lead, mainly the heavy hitting of the infrastructure, weaponry, rocket launching system and terror operatives of the Hamas terror organization.
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When the ceasefire comes into effect on Sunday (Jan. 18) at 02:00, the commander of Operation Cast Lead, Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant, will order the redeployment of IDF forces within the Gaza Strip following the security assessments. The forces will also be briefed on the specifics of the rules of opening fire during the ceasefire. IDF forces will respond to any attack against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers accordingly.
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Following the orders of the Chief of the General Staff and the GOC of the Southern Command, the operation has not yet ended and IDF aerial, naval, ground and intelligence forces will stay alert and ready for any possible situation. The IDF will continue to assess the situation and it sees Hamas as responsible for the stability of the ceasefire and the return to routine life for the residents of the Gaza Strip. Israel made its decision and Hamas will be responsible for its stability.
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The current Home Front Command safety instructions for the residents of southern Israel remain in effect, considering the possibility that Hamas will continue the rocket fire in order to “have the last word”. All of the citizens of the regions neighboring the Gaza Strip are therefore asked to continue following the guidelines of the Home Front Command.
Taken from the IDF official website
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POST UPDATE:
Hamas Announces Immediate Ceasefire
Sunday, January 18, 2009
.. About Photo: PAST Visual materiel confiscated from Hamas charity institutions
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A statement read by a Hamas spokesman said the group would hold fire for a week to give Israel time to withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip.

The move came hours after a unilateral Israeli ceasefire came into effect... The cessation of hostilities was earlier cast into doubt by fresh rocket fire into Israel and an Israeli air strike on militants in Gaza... Hamas' deputy chief in Syria, Moussa Abou Marzouk, said the ceasefire was in the name of all "Palestinian resistance factions"...
Read this report in full from the BBC.co.uk website at link below...
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has announced an immediate ceasefire with Israel in Gaza
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* YNETNews.com reports it this way this early Sunday morning our time...
Hamas, Jihad cease fire in Gaza

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AubreyJ.........