By Xinhua,
Cairo : Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman held talks on Sunday with a visiting Hamas delegation on a possible truce deal between Palestinian militants groups and Israel.
Suleiman, who is in charge of the mediation efforts, briefed the Hamas delegation on Israel’s position regarding the proposed ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the official MENA news agency quoted a well-placed source as saying on condition of anonymity.
The meeting is the latest round of Egypt’s mediation on a Palestinian-Israeli ceasefire.
Shortly after the meeting, the Hamas delegation called Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal in Syria and other top Hamas leaders on the outcome of the talks with Suleiman.
The Hamas delegation, which is led by deputy chief of the group’s politburo Mussa Abu-Marzouk, arrived here Saturday evening to hear about Israel’s response.
A new round of talks is scheduled for June 16 to discuss Hamas’ position on the ceasefire, said the report.
Egypt proposed the ceasefire a few months ago to decrease Israeli attacks and to lift the closure that Israel imposed on the Gaza Strip since a year ago following Hamas’ violent takeover of the territory.
Earlier on Sunday, a Hamas spokesman said the group hopes Israeli responses to the Egyptian-offered ceasefire will be positive.
“We hope that all things contribute to lifting the siege and ending the aggression on our people,” Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom said.