Hamas accepts Egyptian-brokered Gaza ceasefire

EGYPT:CAIRO CONFIRMED yesterday that an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire covering Gaza could commence as early as tomorrow.

Hamas's spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Egypt would formally proclaim the tahadiyeh, or quiet, "barring unforeseen developments". Another Hamas official said the two-phase deal would begin with a three-day halt to hostilities. If this holds, Israel would open a border crossing with Gaza to allow in raw materials and consumer goods blocked since last June.

The second phase would involve the release of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas affiliates two years ago. In exchange, Israel would agree to reopen the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border.

It is not clear whether Hamas has dropped its demand for the freeing of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Corporal Shalit. Israel has approved only 70 on lists submitted by Hamas.

An unidentified Israeli official said: "If Hamas keeps the cease-fire, we can gradually deliver more goods and supplies." But he qualified this statement by saying that the types and volume of imports into Gaza would be kept "vague on purpose". Israel controls the Rafah gateway under a US-brokered agreement which involves the deployment of EU monitors who supervise the terminal's operations. Israel also insists Egypt crack down on arms smuggling into Gaza.

The official also asserted: "No shooting won't be enough to reopen Rafah. Progress on Gilad Shalit is required."

Another development which could torpedo the deal was the killing yesterday by Israel of six Palestinian fighters in Gaza. Five were members of Islamic Jihad, which has pledged to abide by the truce if Israel does; the sixth fatality was a member of the Army of Islam, a Hamas splinter group.