Egyptian source tells Asharq al-Awsat that Israel will agree once deal among factions announced.
By JPOST.COM STAFFKarni crossing 88 224(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Israel is expected to agree to an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire with Hamas within days, a senior Egyptian official told the London-based newspaper Asharq al-Awsat in a report published on Monday.
According to the official, Israel will give an "unofficial" acceptance to the agreement only after "the Palestinian factions announce that they accept the deal."
"After we announce the cease-fire in Cairo, the sides will be bound to it," the official told the paper. "In addition, Israel will open the border crossings to Gaza in order to allow the transfer of commercial shipments, medicine, fuel and food."
However, the official noted that the Rafah Crossing would be opened only on condition that Israel, Hamas, the European Union and the Palestinian Authority apply a 2005 agreement which defined the control rights.
On Sunday, Asharq al-Awsat reported that Hamas had threatened "unprecedented escalation" against Israel if it did not agree soon to the cease-fire.
Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha told the paper that Egyptian Intelligence chief Omar Suleiman was expected to arrive in Israel on Monday to convey Hamas's offer, which was agreed upon by twelve Palestinian factions last week.
Another spokesman for the group, Sami Abu Zuhri, said the organization was waiting to receive an official response through Egypt in the coming days. He said Hamas was ready to deal with one of two possibilities: Pacification or escalation.
"All options are open. The ball is in the Israeli court," Abu Zuhri said, adding that if Israel continues its procrastination, aggression and blockade of Gaza, "it may lead to unprecedented escalation."
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