|
Cairo, Egypt: Top Hamas leaders have opened talks with Egypt's chief of intelligence to discuss a possible truce between the Palestinian group and Israel, official said.
The officials said that Hamas leaders were discussing peace proposals with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Sulaiman at an undisclosed location outside Cairo.
The new round of mediation comes amid reports that Israel has dropped an earlier demand to include in any deal the release of a kidnapped Israeli soldier.
Israel and Hamas have set tough conditions for a truce. Israel wants Hamas and Egypt to stop smuggling weapons into Gaza, while Hamas wants Israel to lift a blockade of Gaza.
A Hamas spokesman said on Saturday that the group's delegation will not make any decisions immediately.
"They will listen to what the Egyptians have to say and then return to consult with the group," Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha said.
|