By Xinhua,
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt : Visiting Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday expressed concern over restoring security to residents of Israeli villages and towns near the Gaza Strip.
Barak made the remarks after his talks with Egyptian PresidentHosni Mubarak in the Egyptian Red Sea resort Sharm el-Sheikhearlier in the day.
He urged the Palestinian movement Hamas to end rocket attacks on Israeli civilians before Israel agrees to any truce or cooling off period with the Islamic group, warning of a military escalation in the Gaza Strip otherwise.
The Israeli official reiterated that any truce deal with the Palestinians to halt violence should include the release of the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation led by senior Hamas members, including former foreign minister Mahmoud Zahar, deputy political chief Moussa Abu-Marzouq on Monday arrived in Egypt for talks with Egyptian officials to hear Israel’s response to the ceasefire proposal.
If the truce deal is agreed upon between Gaza and Israel, the latter is supposed to lift the blockade imposed on Gaza and open the border crossing points and ease the restrictions on movement of people and goods.
An Israeli blockade on Gaza since last June worsened the daily life of the population there due to a shortage of fuel, electricity and basic needs for industry and constructions.