Israel weighs unilateral halt to Gaza offensive: source
Summary: Israel is not doing it out of the goodness of its heart, of course. The U.S. and Israel have signed an agreement to prevent Hamas re-arming itself . Egypt would play a large part in closing down smugglers' tunnels going into Gaza. Israel also wants to keep troops in Gaza after the halt, as an occupying force. The IDF is continuing its claim that the invasion is justified; to prove this, it has let reporters see a supposed Hamas launch site . It has yet to co-relate the launch sites with the 86% civilian casualties in Gaza. Complete Article JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli leaders are leaning toward declaring a unilateral halt to their offensive in the Gaza Strip instead of entering into a formal, Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Hamas, Israeli political sources said on Friday. Such a move could deprive Hamas of political gains from a truce deal that would include the easing of Israel's blockade on the coastal enclave, home to 1.5 million Palestinians. Israeli official...