Hamas movement has offered a one-year truce with Israel through indirect talks, sponsored by Egypt between the Islamic movement and Israel, a Hamas official said Monday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua on telephone that his movement accepts a one-year truce "with guarantees that Israel shows commitment to lift the siege and completely reopen crossings."
Talks are held in Cairo between Hamas official and senior Egyptian security officials on one hand, and between Israeli security officials and Egypt's intelligence chief Omer Suleiman on the other.
"The delegation in Cairo is authorized to only discuss the issues of the truce and reopening the border crossings," said the official, adding "other issues like the internal reconciliation would be discussed too."
Secretary of Israeli Defense Ministry Amos Gilad, who met with Egypt's Suleiman recently, said that Israel wants a longer term truce with Hamas.
Media reports said Hamas is willing to accept an 18-month truce with Israel, while the Jewish country, which is seeking a ten-year truce with Gaza militants, is studying the proposal, and would bring back an answer soon.
Meanwhile, Hamas truce negotiator Ayman Taha told the Saudi Arabia's Al-Arabeya TV station based in Dubai that Hamas' talks with the Egyptians "focused on reaching a new truce with Israel with better guarantees."
"Israel hinted it might accept an 18-month truce with Hamas for reopening Gaza crossings and partially lift the blockade and not completely, but Hamas rejects it," said Taha, insisting that "the siege should be completely lifted."
Egypt has brokered a six-month truce that ended on Dec. 19, just one week before Israel carried out a 22-day military offensive on the Gaza Strip. Hamas refused to renew the truce because Israel kept the blockade on Gaza.
(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2009)