The Hamas delegation to Egypt has reportedly rejected any ceasefire with Israel which does not apply to both the West Bank and Gaza Strip.In negotiations currently being held in Egypt, the Hamas delegation has indicated that they cannot accept the current draft initiative outlined by President Abbas.
The draft indicates that Hamas must halt the fire of rockets into Israel before a ceasefire is implemented in Gaza and later spread to the West Bank.
Speaking with haartez.com, Fawzi Barhoum, the spokesperson for Hamas in Gaza, stated, “We will agree only to a total cease-fire both in the West Bank and the Strip.’
Israel currently rejects Hamas calls to extend the ceasefire to the West Bank, arguing that such a move would prevent Israel from apprehending so-called “wanted Palestinians” from the area.
In a related development, Moussa Abu Marzouk, Hamas’s deputy political leader, has suggested that the organization may consider a one-year ceasefire with Israel.
Speaking to the Egyptian newspaper, ‘Al-Ahram’, he stated ‘We may agree to a one-year ceasfire. Both parties have to abide by it.’
The Israeli response to the suggestion has been sceptical with Mark Regev, a foreign ministry spokesperson, stating, ‘The current ceasefire in Gaza is unfortunately a sham. It would seem that before we talk about expanding the ceasefire, we should first get it right.’
