Israel: "Hamas" obstructs agreement

"Hamas" hinders the conclusion of an agreement by insisting on an end to the war in the Gaza Strip, an Israeli government official said last night, quoted by AFP and BTA.

The source in question, who spoke on condition of anonymity, spoke to the agency after another round of mediated talks began in Cairo earlier today in an attempt to reach a ceasefire.

"Informations that Israel has agreed to end the war as part of a prisoner exchange agreement, or that Israel will allow mediation to ensure that the war stops, are inaccurate. Until now (the movement) "Hamas" has not given up its demand for an end to the war and thus hinders the possibility of reaching a ceasefire agreement," the Israeli official was quoted as saying.

A representative of the Palestinian Islamist movement, for its part, told AFP that there was "no development" in the negotiations led by the mediation of Egypt, Qatar and the United States. Discussions have ended today and there will be a new round tomorrow, he added.

According to media reports this morning, the US has offered "Hamas" assurances that Israel will agree to a cease-fire once a relevant agreement is reached.

In the afternoon, Taher al-Nono, adviser to the Qatari capital Doha-based political leader of "Hamas" Ismail Haniya, told Reuters that meetings with the mediators had begun, with the Palestinian Islamist movement considering their proposals "with full seriousness and responsibility". However, he repeated the demands of "Hamas" for the Israeli army to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and an end to the war - conditions that Israel has already rejected.