Israeli forces storm Gaza City neighborhood
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Ibrahim Barzak, Christopher Torchia - January 14, 2009 - 1:00am

Terrified residents ran for cover Tuesday in a densely populated neighborhood of Gaza City as Israeli troops backed by tanks thrust deeper into the city and sought Hamas fighters in alleyways and cellars. On the diplomatic front, Egyptian mediators pushed Hamas to accept a truce proposal and, in a hopeful sign, Israel sent its lead negotiator to Cairo for "decisive'' talks on a cease-fire. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also headed for the region to join diplomatic efforts.

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Hamas May Survive Offensive, Israel Says
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Craig Whitlock - January 14, 2009 - 1:00am

TEL AVIV, Jan. 13 -- Israeli military officials said Tuesday that their 18-day offensive in the Gaza Strip had weakened Hamas but that a knockout blow was unlikely. The conflict showed no signs of ending as diplomats reported little progress in negotiating a cease-fire.

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Egypt tells Hamas it must commit to one year cease-fire in Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avi Issacharoff, Barak Ravid - January 14, 2009 - 1:00am

Egypt continued on Tuesday to urge Hamas to accept its cease-fire proposal for the Gaza Strip. Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman told Hamas representatives to the talks in Cairo that the organization would have to commit to a one-year cease-fire. Hamas officials told the Egyptians that it would be willing to accept the proposal if the changes demanded by the organization are made.

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Israeli Officials Say Hamas Damaged But Not Destroyed
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Steven Erlanger, Sabrina Tavernise - January 13, 2009 - 1:00am

TEL AVIV — As Israeli forces tightened their circle around Gaza on Tuesday, senior Israeli intelligence officials said Hamas military forces had been damaged but remained substantially intact. The intelligence officials were briefing reporters.

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Egypt wants Hamas to sign up to truce deal 'now'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
January 13, 2009 - 1:00am

CAIRO (AFP) — Egypt was on Tuesday holding talks with Hamas on Cairo's Gaza truce proposal, with an official calling for the Islamists to sign up "now" in the hope of announcing a ceasefire before the end of the week. A Hamas delegation was to hold a fresh round of talks with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, as Israel's offensive ploughed on for an 18th day and diplomatic efforts to end the bloodshed plodded forward.

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Report: Hamas agrees to Turkey troops on Gaza-Egypt border
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Avi Issacharoff, Yoav Stern - January 13, 2009 - 1:00am

Hamas sources have said that the Palestinian militant organization would agree to the deployment of Turkish troops along Gaza's border with Egypt, the London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat reported Tuesday. "We trust Turkey and its role as an Islamic country," the Hamas officials said. They were referring to a proposal recently submitted to Hamas' Damascus-based political chief Khaled Meshal by Turkish officials.

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Hamas reportedly rejects Egypt bid for long-term Gaza truce
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
January 12, 2009 - 1:00am

Hamas has rejected an Egyptian proposal for a long-term truce between the Gaza Strip and Israel, the London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayyat reported on Monday. The newspaper quoted a senior Hamas source as saying: "There are still many details that need to be discussed before we can say that we have reached an agreement of principles. Egypt's state-owned news agency reported on Sunday that talks were progressing between Egyptian officials and a Hamas delegation dispatched to Cairo on finding an end to the fighting in the Gaza Strip.

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Blair Says Mideast Cease-Fire Elements in Place
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Griff Witte - January 12, 2009 - 1:00am

Israeli war planes and gunboats destroyed targets in the Gaza Strip Monday, including homes of Hamas leaders, as special Mideast envoy Tony Blair said after a meeting in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that "the elements of an agreement" for a cease-fire are in place. Blair, the former British prime minister, spoke amid intense negotiations aimed at bringing the 17-day war to a halt. Both Israel and Hamas are participating.

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Egypt defends its Gaza policy
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Nadia Abou el-Magd - January 12, 2009 - 1:00am

Egyptian officials yesterday launched a public relations offensive aimed at defending the government’s policies towards the Gaza Strip and tempering growing criticism of its handling of the two-week-long conflict.

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Evolving talks over Gaza ceasefire
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters
January 11, 2009 - 1:00am

Gaza truce talks have shown little outward sign of progress, with Israel seeking guarantees Hamas will be prevented from rearming and the Islamist group demanding Israel first pull out and reopen border crossings. Egyptian officials have sought to mediate between the two sides, which refuse to talk to each other directly. A Hamas delegation is now in Cairo. Israel planned to send senior defense official Amos Gilad on Monday. Based on interviews with diplomatic and political sources, here are the main issues being discussed in the talks: ANTI-SMUGGLING MEASURES

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