Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies: Barak: Hamas will pay for its escalation in the south
Talkback
Title:"...two requests from Hamas, via a third party..."
Name:Atilla Karagözoğlu
City: State:
"...Meretz-Yahad chairman MK Yossi Beilin advocated a diplomatic solution rather than a military one.

"My solution is to reach a cease-fire with Hamas," said Beilin, who said Israel should also continue negotiation with the Palestinian Authority.

Beilin said Hamas has expressed an interest in a truce over the last few weeks and that it was irresponsible of Israel not to respond to them.

"There have been at least two requests from Hamas, via a third party, to accept a cease-fire," he said.

The government, for its part, has been sending mixed messages regarding the possibility of a ground offensive in Gaza..."

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WHAT HAMAS REQUESTS ?
DOES HAMAS WANT TO TAKE ISRAEL TO ITS OWN GAZA-RING (SWAMP) ?