By Xinhua,
Gaza : The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is ready to talk with Egypt about reaching a ceasefire between Israel and armed Palestinian groups in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, a pan-Arab newspaper reported on Thursday.
The London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily quoted Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha as saying that a Hamas delegation in Cairo “is ready to discuss the idea of a Gaza Strip calmness if Egypt proposes so.”
“Hamas delegation in Cairo will discuss the file of calmness with Israel,” Taha added, stressing that Hamas will stick to its conditions that the calmness must be mutual, full and coincident in addition to lifting the Israeli closure on Gaza Strip.
Two senior Hamas leaders arrived in Egypt on Wednesday to hold talks with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter who is visiting the Middle East with a personal effort aiming at pushing peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israel stepped up military attacks and tightened the siege on Gaza last June after Hamas seized control of the territory by force.
Twenty Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers were killed in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours in various Israeli operations.
Egypt has been mediating between Israel and the Palestinian factions to broker a ceasefire for two months, but rounds of violence negatively affect the Egyptian efforts.