By Xinhua,
Gaza : Islamic Hamas movement on Saturday expected that Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman will arrive in Israel on Monday to present Egypt’s ceasefire offer which Palestinian armed groups accepted.
“Most probably, Mr. Suleiman will arrive on Monday to hand the lull deal after the Palestinians unanimously agreed on during last week talks in Cairo, said Ayman Taha, a spokesman for Hamas.
According to the Egyptian vision, the ceasefire will take place in the Gaza Strip, which Hamas rules, before being expanded to cover the Fatah-dominated West Bank.
In June last year, Hamas fought security forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and took over the Gaza Strip. Israel stepped up its military operations and tightened the siege on the Hamas-ruled coastal strip.
Hamas says the ball is now in Israel’s court and that the Islamic movement “is ready for all options following the Israeli response.”
Meanwhile, Taha denied holding any “open or secret” talks with Israel over the lull and the exchange of a number of Palestinian prisoners for an Israeli soldier that Hamas has been holding in Gaza since 2006.
“Hamas’ stance is clear, it rejects to have any contact with the Israeli occupation,” Taha said, adding that the talks to swap corporal Gilad Shalit “are being done via mediators, mainly Egypt.”