Gaza ceasefire expected to be extended until after Israeli elections

According to Israeli defence assessments, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is expected to last until the upcoming Israeli general elections scheduled to take place in mid-February. The ceasefire is set to expire in December but defence officials believe that Hamas will want to extend it until the early elections. During a recent trip to Cairo, Head of the Defence Ministry's Security-Diplomatic Bureau Amos Gilad agreed to an Egyptian plan to extend the original six-month plan. Hamas are negotiating with various terror groups in Gaza to discuss the ceasefire and are insisting that any extension would include opening all the border crossings in Gaza, a demand not currently part of the Egyptian plan.

Deputy Defence Minister Matan Vilnai warned yesterday that "the big fear is a major terror attack as a result of Hamas turning a blind eye [towards other armed groups in Gaza], and we would be forced to retaliate." Vilnai identified two possible dates when a terror attack could occur: 18 December, the date when the ceasefire expires and 9 January, the scheduled sate for the Palestinian Authority to hold elections to replace PA President Mahmoud Abbas. Vilnai also added that the IDF is prepared for a range of possible security threats emanating from Gaza and would respond in a serious manner that could include an all-out operation in the strip.

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