Al-Arabiya: Group to accept Egyptian proposal; Abbas, Hamas delegation to visit Cairo on Monday.
By JPOST.COM STAFFhamas rally gaza 248 88 ap(photo credit: AP [file])
Hamas has accepted an Egyptian proposal for a one-year cease-fire in the Gaza Strip starting this week, Palestinian television network al-Arabiya reported Sunday. The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza will reportedly be opened on Thursday as part of the agreement.
A Hamas delegation is set to arrive in Cairo on Monday in order to clarify the group's response to the initiative, according to the report, particularly the clauses regarding the conditions of the cease-fire.
The Jerusalem Post could not independently confirm the report.
In response to the report, Israel merely stressed that it was not negotiating with Hamas, but with Egypt and the international community. It emphasized that its conditions for a long-term Gaza truce remained the same: a halt in rocket fire and arms smuggling, Israel Radio reported.
An Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hussam Zaki, refused to confirm or deny the report, saying that the results of Egyptian cease-fire efforts would be announced Monday.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will also arrive in Cairo on Monday, according to PA spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina.
The spokesman noted Saturday that Abbas was making the trip "in light of surprising developments in the talks with Hamas."
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