By Xinhua,
Gaza : The Islamic Hamas movement said on Saturday Israel’s responses to an Egyptian offer for a ceasefire deal in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip were not encouraging.
Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan said the efforts to realize a lull collided with Israeli obstacles, adding that “the Israeli occupation wants a free calmness, which does not include opening the crossings and breaking the siege.”
Radwan said Hamas “was sufficiently flexible” and complied with the Egyptian proposal that the ceasefire takes place for six months in Gaza before expanding to the West Bank.
Hamas has offered a six-month end to violence in the Gaza Strip if Israel were to lift an embargo on the coastal territory and reopen Gaza border crossings, a proposal presented to Israeli officials by Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.
Israel, however, accepts “a lull for lull” which means stopping Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip but maintaining economic sanctions and embargo which the Jewish state adopted in June 2007 when Hamas seized control of Gaza, according to Radwan.
“We have emphasized that any lull must secure the lifting of the siege and the reopening of all crossings, especially the Rafahborder crossing,” Radwan said.
At the end of Hamas’ talks with Egyptian mediators in Cairo last week, deputy chief of Hamas politburo Moussa Abu Marzouk said”Israel’s response to the offer doesn’t at all meet Hamas’ conditions.”
Israel demanded a truce deal with Hamas must retrieve its soldier Gilad Shalit who has been held hostage by Hamas for about two years.
Hamas said Shalit can not be released without a prisoner exchange deal ensuring the freeing of a number of Palestinian prisoners.