By Xinhua,
Gaza : The Islamic Hamas movement will hear Israel’s response to an Egyptian offer for a Gaza ceasefire after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert returns from Washington, a Hamas leader said on Wednesday.
Mahmoud Zahar, a Gaza-based Hamas leader, told the press that the response will be “positive” because Egypt has urged Israel to respond quickly and helpfully.
“This is in order to prevent more complications and to avoid returning again to the zero point,” he added.
Olmert will meet U.S. President George W. Bush later Wednesday as part of his current Washington trip.
Zahar said that Hamas’ position will be determined when the Islamic movement received the Israeli answers on some questions involving the lifting of the Israeli blockade on the Hamas-controlled Gaza and stopping violence.
Israel sealed off all crossing points into Gaza and increased military attacks when Hamas took over the coastal strip a year ago.
As for the Palestinian political crisis, Zahar said it was early to launch a dialogue in order to make reconciliation with rival Fatah movement led by President Mahmoud Abbas.
Since Hamas ousted Abbas’ forces in Gaza last June, the president bans any talks with the Islamic movement.