Hamas: the movement delegation is still meeting with Egyptian officials regarding the truce deal

Monday June 16, 2008 15:19 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

The Hamas movement issued a press statement on Monday stating that the movement delegation that left to Cairo over the week end is still their and doing talks with the Egyptian officials regarding the truce deal with Israel.

Fouzi Barhum, Hamas Spokesperson in Gaza – Photo by Palestine info 2008

Fouzi Barhum, Hamas Spokesperson in Gaza, told media that Hamas will wait until the delegates return from Cairo then formalize a response regarding the deal.

The Hamas official also added that there is no deal has been made regarding the truce with Israeli and talks are still on going.

The Egyptian-mediated ceasefire stipulates that Hamas will halt the fire of homemade shells into Israeli territory, in exchange for Israel lifting the 12 month-blockade and ceasing all military attacks against the Gaza Strip.

Israel have set a further two demands; the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and ensuring an end to alleged “arms smuggling” through underground tunnels on the Egypt-Gaza borders.

Shalit was captured from an Israeli military base in the Gaza Strip in June 2006 by Palestinian resistance fighters. The democratically-elected Hamas movement took full control of Gaza in June 2007, amidst factional infighting with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah party.

ramallah | palestinian politics | news report ghassanb at imemc dot org