Hamas Speaks Out On Egyptian Cease-Fire Plan
(AP Photo/Abdalrahem Khate)
"We responded positively to the Egyptian initiative but there is still several specified points of differences and certain reservations. We hope that these points will be solved over the next few days to meet with the Palestinian national interests," a Hamas source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told CBS News.
"We welcome the Egyptian role which moves to end the Israeli aggression within the framework of the standards we had already outlined by Hamas publicly," he added.
The Palestinian faction made it clear that any truce plan must stipulate "a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza," as well as an "end to the aggression," and ending the blockade by opening all border crossing points, including Rafah.
A Hamas delegation has reportedly been in talks with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman over the past week. The negotiating team is made up of five officials, three from the exiled political leadership in Damascus and two from the Gaza Strip.
Imad Alami and Mohammed Nasser, two of the group's officials based in Damascus, returned to Cairo earlier Wednesday after a quick trip back to Damascus for consultations with other group leaders.
Sixteen Arab countries have agreed to attend an emergency Arab summit in Doha on Friday, but regional powers Saudi Arabia and Egypt will be notably absent.
Egypt's own plan includes a fixed cease-fire period, securing supply tunnels that Israel says are being used for weapons smuggling, opening Gaza's borders and restarting Palestinian reconciliation talks.
As Israeli military operations entered their 19th day, Palestinian medical sources said more than 1,000 people have been killed in Gaza so far, including some 300 children and 75 women.
The fighting has raised concerns about a looming humanitarian disaster in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people are without power and running water.
