By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekaton Sunday urged Israel to cooperate with Egypt in an effort to make a ceasefire in Gaza Strip.
After talks held in Cairo with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, Erekat said that Suleiman will visit Israel on Monday to present the ceasefire proposal which the Palestinian factions, led by Hamas, have accepted.
Erekat also urged the Palestinian factions to positively cooperate with Egypt to achieve the ceasefire in the Hamas-ruled Gaza, explaining that the Egyptian moves come upon a request from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and took over Gaza Strip in June last year, drawing a growth of Israeli attacks on the coastal strip and the closure of all its crossing points with Israel.
The truce in Gaza “should include a lift of the siege, a reopen of the crossings and easing the suffering of the people,” Erekat said, stressing that the first step should be done by Hamas “when it steps back from the coup” it carried out in Gaza.
Erekat said the lull could help to push peace talks with Israel, which was resumed under the U.S. mediation in November to bolster Abbas who lost Gaza.