Haniyeh calls for halt in military actions in Gaza

GAZA, July 8 (Reuters) Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh today called for Palestinian militants and Israel to halt military operations in Gaza after 11 days of fierce fighting left nearly 40 Palestinians dead.

A statement issued by Haniyeh's office in Gaza said: ''In order to get out of the current crisis, it is necessary that all parties restore calm on the basis of mutually stopping all military operations.'' Haniyeh's call came hours after Israeli forces pulled out of most of the northern Gaza Strip. They launched an offensive 11 days ago to free an abducted soldier and to try to stop rocket fire by Palestinian militants into Israel.

Israeli troops remain in southern Gaza, at the disused international airport, as well as near the Karni commercial crossing east of Gaza City.

REUTERS SRS PM1653