CAIRO, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Under the Egyptian sponsorship, the truce agreement between Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement and Israel on Thursday came to effect in Gaza Strip for the first day, raising hopes for a chance to realize peace in the Middle East despite of deep doubts on the duration of the so-called lull or calm.

    CHANCE TO REALIZE MIDEAST PEACE

    For the first time in years, the Palestinian and Israeli sides reach a truce agreement that includes a cessation of violence in the first week and holding negotiations on release of Palestinian prisoners in the second week to be followed by a gradual lifting of siege on Gaza Strip and negotiations over release of Israeli captive Gilad Shalit, Egypt's al-Ahram daily said in its editorial on Thursday.

    The truce agreement takes the Mideast peace process to a new stage away from killings, violence, tension and mutual accusations traded by Palestinian and Israeli sides, proving that there is a chance to realize peace in the Middle East if Israel was convinced that in order to live in peace, the Palestinians have to live in peace too, the daily noted.

    In its editorial, Al-Gomhuria termed reaching a truce agreement as a far-fetched hope given the wide gaps between Palestinian and Israeli stances, hailing Egypt's success to bridge the gap between a side seeking restoration of its usurped rights and another planning for more settlement expansions.

    The daily called on Israel to understand that they cannot impose peace by force on Palestinians no matter how savage the Israeli military vehicle was.

    Just peace is possible only if Israel was committed to a new policy based on a comprehensive lull in Gaza Strip and West Bank, an end of provocative settlement activities and the release of Palestinian prisoners, it added.

　　DOUBTS ON TRUCE DURATION

    The Egyptian-brokered truce started at 6 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) Thursday in Gaza after another day of cross-border violence.

    On Thursday morning, Ezz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, issued a statement announcing its commitment to the ceasefire which comes as a result of months of indirect talks between Hamas and Israel, mediated by Egypt.

    The six-month ceasefire is expected to halt Israeli attacks into Gaza and ease the blockade which Israel imposed on Gaza Strip when Hamas took over the territory by force a year ago. During the Gaza fighting, Hamas routed security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas and ousted his Fatah movement.

    However, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday that the imminent calm in Gaza Strip is temporary and may be short-lived, hours after Israel officially confirmed agreement to an Egypt-brokered truce with Gaza militants.

    For its part, Hamas's armed wing said in a statement published just as the ceasefire began, that it is "fully ready to launch a military strike that would shake the Zionist entity if they did not abide by all the items of the calm".

    CONTINUING PEACE EFFORTS

    While each side has expressed skepticism over the duration of the truce and the lull was seen as "the quiet before the storm", mediation efforts for peace are continuing.

    Olmert was scheduled to visit Cairo next Tuesday for a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported Thursday on its website.

    The two are expected to discuss different regional issues including negotiations with the Palestinians and the ceasefire in Gaza Strip, said the report.

    After the announcement of the truce with Israel for Gaza Strip starting on Thursday, Hamas said on Tuesday that it would respect the deal but stressed the Egyptian-mediated negotiations had not yet been concluded, describing the discussions in Cairo as positive.

    Egypt has mediated a truce between Israel and Gaza militant groups for months by which Israel would ease the blockade imposed on Gaza and stop military offensive into Gaza for ending rocket attacks on Israel.

Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations