By Xinhua,
ANKARA : Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is expected to arrive in Turkey later this week for talks on a more durable truce in Gaza after completing his visit to France and Italy, local newspaper Today’s Zaman reported on Tuesday.
Mubarak’s visit comes amid preparations for an aid conference for Gaza Strip and diplomatic efforts for a more durable truce in the Palestinian territories, said the report.
Egypt is to host an aid conference on March 2 aiming to raise money to rebuild Gaza. It is also trying to secure a lasting cease-fire between Israel and Hamas by giving proposals that include a prisoner exchange and the initial opening of at least two of Gaza’s border crossings.
A fragile cease-fire has been in place since Israel ended a 22-day military offensive in Gaza on Jan. 18. Hamas also announced a cease-fire on the same day.
However, the continuing sporadic violence is straining the truce. Two rockets struck southern Israel on Sunday, while an Israeli tank shell struck a house and killed a man in northern Gaza Strip on Monday.
Turkey has recently won the hearts of all Palestinian groups, including Hamas. Taking this increased support for Turkey into consideration, Egypt expects to have Turkey’s support in its efforts to secure a lasting cease-fire.
The planned visit by Mubarak to Turkey comes days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ visit to the Turkish capital, where he had talks with Turkish leaders and called on Israel and Egypt to lift the blockades they imposed in 2007, after Hamas took control of Gaza.