Thoughts: One thing I can't seek to understand is the lack of support from other Arab nations around the conflict region especially on opening of their country's borders linked to Gaza strip.
(Agence Rance-Presse)
A Hamas delegation from Gaza led by heavyweight Mahmud Zahar was in Egypt on Saturday for talks on consolidating a ceasefire with Israel, which a Hamas spokesman said may be reached in a few days.
It was the first time Zahar had been seen in public since Israel's massive 22-day war against the Gaza Strip's Islamist rulers which ended with both sides calling separate ceasefires on January 18.
Zahar was among a delegation of seven Hamas officials who crossed the Rafah border between Egypt and Gaza on their way to Cairo for talks with intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.
Thought to be overall Hamas leader in the Palestinian territories, Zahar told the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite channel he would meet Egyptian negotiators and members of Hamas's Syrian-based politburo later in the day.
The delegation will hear Israel's position, which senior Israeli defence official Amos Gilad relayed to Suleiman on Friday, he said.
"There will be a follow up on the position Israel has arrived to, and based on that we will give the final Palestinian viewpoint," Zahar told Al-Jazeera.
A Hamas official told the channel the delegation will travel later to Damascus to consult with the movement's political leadership before returning to Cairo on Sunday.
Gilad reported back in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, an official said.
Egypt's Suleiman has been mediating indirect talks between Israeli and Palestinian officials for a lasting truce since the end of the Gaza war, which killed at least 1,330 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.
The fragile calm has been tested by Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel and retaliatory air strikes.
A Hamas spokesman in Gaza said the Islamist movement expects to see an agreement with Israel on reopening the border crossings into the enclave soon.
"If the Egyptian efforts are successful at this time, we expect to reach an agreement within the next few days," Fawzi Barhum told AFP.
He said the talks were over an agreement "to end the siege, stop the aggression and reopen the crossings."
Israel, which controls all border crossings except Rafah, which is managed by Egypt, has kept the densely populated strip closed to all but essential supplies since June 2007 when Hamas seized power, ousting forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.
"There was some question about guaranteeing the truce and how the Rafah crossing will reopen and today we expect to have an answer from our Egyptian brothers," Barhum said.
Egypt closed Rafah on Thursday, after opening it to aid and Palestinian wounded during the war. Egypt has refused to permanently open the crossing in the absence of EU monitors and Abbas's representatives.
Hamas officials have said they are seeking clarifications on an Israeli offer to allow between 70 and 80 percent of goods through its crossings into Gaza, barring those it says could be used to make weapons.
The fact that Zahar himself was attending the talks showed how important the truce was to Hamas, Barhum said.
"It is very important for Hamas to see these Egyptian efforts succeed," he added.
At a rally in Damascus on Friday, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said Israel has yet to provide guarantees that border crossings will remain open.
"The enemy gave opaque and incomplete answers through Egypt that do not amount to a lifting of the blockade," he said.
(Agence Rance-Presse)
A Hamas delegation from Gaza led by heavyweight Mahmud Zahar was in Egypt on Saturday for talks on consolidating a ceasefire with Israel, which a Hamas spokesman said may be reached in a few days.
It was the first time Zahar had been seen in public since Israel's massive 22-day war against the Gaza Strip's Islamist rulers which ended with both sides calling separate ceasefires on January 18.
Zahar was among a delegation of seven Hamas officials who crossed the Rafah border between Egypt and Gaza on their way to Cairo for talks with intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.
Thought to be overall Hamas leader in the Palestinian territories, Zahar told the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite channel he would meet Egyptian negotiators and members of Hamas's Syrian-based politburo later in the day.
The delegation will hear Israel's position, which senior Israeli defence official Amos Gilad relayed to Suleiman on Friday, he said.
"There will be a follow up on the position Israel has arrived to, and based on that we will give the final Palestinian viewpoint," Zahar told Al-Jazeera.
A Hamas official told the channel the delegation will travel later to Damascus to consult with the movement's political leadership before returning to Cairo on Sunday.
Gilad reported back in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, an official said.
Egypt's Suleiman has been mediating indirect talks between Israeli and Palestinian officials for a lasting truce since the end of the Gaza war, which killed at least 1,330 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.
The fragile calm has been tested by Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel and retaliatory air strikes.
A Hamas spokesman in Gaza said the Islamist movement expects to see an agreement with Israel on reopening the border crossings into the enclave soon.
"If the Egyptian efforts are successful at this time, we expect to reach an agreement within the next few days," Fawzi Barhum told AFP.
He said the talks were over an agreement "to end the siege, stop the aggression and reopen the crossings."
Israel, which controls all border crossings except Rafah, which is managed by Egypt, has kept the densely populated strip closed to all but essential supplies since June 2007 when Hamas seized power, ousting forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.
"There was some question about guaranteeing the truce and how the Rafah crossing will reopen and today we expect to have an answer from our Egyptian brothers," Barhum said.
Egypt closed Rafah on Thursday, after opening it to aid and Palestinian wounded during the war. Egypt has refused to permanently open the crossing in the absence of EU monitors and Abbas's representatives.
Hamas officials have said they are seeking clarifications on an Israeli offer to allow between 70 and 80 percent of goods through its crossings into Gaza, barring those it says could be used to make weapons.
The fact that Zahar himself was attending the talks showed how important the truce was to Hamas, Barhum said.
"It is very important for Hamas to see these Egyptian efforts succeed," he added.
At a rally in Damascus on Friday, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said Israel has yet to provide guarantees that border crossings will remain open.
"The enemy gave opaque and incomplete answers through Egypt that do not amount to a lifting of the blockade," he said.
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