Some ceasefires are more fires than ceases

The Jerusalem Post is reporting on the state of “ceasefire” after a statement released by Palestinian Authority and Hamas that they had agreed to a ceasefire between both organizations in Gaza.:

Five Palestinians were injured on Wednesday in fresh clashes between Palestinian Authority security forces and Hamas gunmen in the Gaza Strip. The latest confrontation erupted in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood south of Gaza City only hours after the two sides announced that they had struck a deal to end the fighting.

PA security sources reported that Hamas gunmen opened fire at the house of Rashid Abu Shabak, commander of the PA's Preventative Security Service, and an office belonging to the ruling Fatah party. Three PA policemen and four Hamas members were injured in the attack, the sources added, accusing Hamas of initiating the clashes. However, Hamas denied the charge, accusing the PA security forces of triggering the fighting by opening fire at a car carrying Hamas gunmen as they drove past Abu Shabak's house and the Fatah office.

Abu Shabak's men have, over the past few days, fought street battles with hundreds of Hamas gunmen in the northern Gaza Strip. The fiercest fighting erupted on Monday and Tuesday, with more than 25 Palestinians injured. Despite Wednesday's pre-dawn clashes, Hamas leaders announced that they were committed to an agreement reached with the PA late Tuesday night and called on their followers to honor the cease-fire. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that despite the clashes, all sides were keen to draw a line under the violence. "There is a desire among our movement and the leaders of the Palestinian Authority to put an end to this issue and to implement this quiet on the ground," he declared.

Ismail Haniyeh, a top Hamas official in the Gaza Strip, announced that his movement had decided to "end all forms of violence and tension with the Palestinian Authority." He added: "Hamas is not at a state of hostility with the Palestinian Authority or Fatah. Our sacred weapons will continue to be directed against the occupation. Internecine fighting does not serve the Palestinian people or the Arabs and Muslims or Hamas and Fatah."

What can I say? Somethings are beyond parody but what are the odds that it’s all just a case of one last hoorah between the two thugs?