By Xinhua
Ramallah : Ayman Taha, an Islamic Hamas movement’s spokesman in Gaza on Saturday denied that the movement has been informed by Egypt that the talks on reaching a cease-fire with Israel were halted.
Egypt has been mediating between Israel and the Palestinian militant groups, led by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, on reaching a cease-fire agreement, by which Israel stops its offensives and militant groups halt armed attacks on Israel.
Taha told reporters that Hamas movement is sticking to the conditions of reaching a truce with Israel, adding “any truce deal must be mutual, parallel and include Gaza and the West Bank.”
Earlier reports said that Israel had informed Egypt that it decided to halt the talks with Egypt on reaching a cease-fire agreement with Gaza militant groups following an attack on Gaza crossing, where two Israelis were killed.
“In case the enemy (Israel) gives up reaching a truce, the whole region will face a clear escalation,” Taha said, adding “in case truce talks fail and Israel escalates, it will pay a very heavy price.”
After Hamas movement took control of the Gaza Strip in mid June last year, Israel closed down all key crossings, either between Gaza and Israel or between Gaza and Egypt. Israel also considered the enclave a hostile entity.
Asked about the closure of Rafah crossing, Taha said that high levels contacts with Egyptian officials were held in order to reach a solution and reopen the crossing.
Taha held the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah responsible for obstructing the efforts to open Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt. He also stressed that “there are no intentions to blowup the fence of the border between Gaza and Egypt.”