Hamas: truce deal to be declared within three days

Source: Xinhua | 02-13-2009 08:15

GAZA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- A spokesman for the Islamic Hamas movement said Thursday night that a truce agreement with Israel mediated by Egypt is expected to be declared within three days.

Taher al-Noono, who is currently in Cairo with a senior Hamas delegation, said in a written statement sent to reporters in Gaza that "it is expected to reach a clear truce agreement within the coming three days."

He said the Hamas delegation, which was headed by deputy politburo chief Moussa Abu-Marzouk who arrived in Cairo on Thursday, held "positive" talks with top Egyptian intelligence officials.

"The talks with intelligence chief Omar Suleiman focused on the truce (with Israel), an inter-Palestinian reconciliation and redeveloping the destruction caused by the Israeli war on Gaza," said al-Noono.

He said the talks in Cairo would continue and that the Egyptians would contact other Palestinian factions and militant groups "until a clear national agreement is reached related to this issue (truce)."

Al-Noono said many obstacles were removed regarding the truce, including stopping all types of Israeli air, sea and ground aggressions, reopening Gaza Strip border crossings and allowing all the needed goods into the enclave.

Egypt has been endeavoring to secure a lasting truce to replace the fragile ceasefire, declared on Jan. 18 separately by both Israel and Hamas movement, ending Israel's 22-day massive assault in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Over 1,300 Palestinians were killed and 5,500 others wounded during the war, while 14 Israelis have died since the launch of the deadly offensive in Gaza on Dec. 27.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei