The radical Hamas movement said on Saturday that it will honor a ceasefire declared at a summit held at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of the Sharm el-Sheikh four days earlier.

Speaking to Xinhua after a meeting between Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and senior Hamas officials, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that Hamas must wait and hear from its leaders outside the Palestinian territories before making final decisions.

However, Zuhri said that if Israel launches attacks, Hamas will retaliate.

The fragile ceasefire was tested Thursday morning when Hamas launched a barrage of mortar shells and rockets on Jewish
settlements in the Gaza Strip.

During the one-day summit, Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced a mutual ceasefire, the first step toward resuming peace talks.
 
(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2005)