No progress in Gaza ceasefire talks with Israel, it said today the senior representative of "Hamas" Osama Hamdan, quoted by Reuters and BTA.
The Palestinian group is still ready to "consider positively" any ceasefire proposal to end the war, Hamdan told a news conference in Beirut.
Efforts by US-backed Arab mediators have so far failed to bring about a ceasefire. "Hamas" says any agreement must include a halt to the war and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and Israel says it will only accept a temporary cease-fire until Hamas, which has ruled the enclave since 2007, is completely destroyed.
Hamdan also accused the US of putting pressure on "Hamas" to accept Israel's demands.
"Once again I state that "Hamas" is ready to look positively at any proposal that provides for a lasting ceasefire, a complete withdrawal (of Israeli forces) from the Gaza Strip and a serious (hostage-for-prisoner) exchange deal,'' Hamdan said.
Israel's offensive in Gaza has so far killed nearly 38,000 Palestinians, according to the enclave's health ministry, and has also left the densely built-up Palestinian territory in ruins, according to Reuters.
/AM/
Source: www.bta.bg