Israel announced Sunday its willingness to agree to an undeclared calm in Gaza Strip, if Hamas stopped missile attacks and weapon smugglings into the strip, the Israeli radio reported. It quoted an Israeli government source as saying that if Hamas agreed to this deal, there would be no need for Israel to execute military operations in Gaza Strip.
On their part, Hamas officials said the Israeli initial rejection of a mutual calm in Gaza Strip is in fact a declaration of war, adding that the Islamic movement is ready for this option. This came in a statement by Hamas leader Dr.Mahmoud Al-Zahhar who asserted that such agreement would be in everyone's interest, including Israel.
Al-Zahhar told Al-Aqsa radio in Gaza that "Israel is seeking to clam the volatile situation in Gaza Strip, as it suffers the scourge of missile attacks launched by the Palestinians, and can not afford confrontation with Hamas."
Meanwhile, the Palestinian news agency WAFA said Sunday that Egypt is set to host a Palestinian factional dialogue so as to consider the calm agreement about to be reached with Israel following the Egyptian mediation. According to this report, on Tuesday the Islamic Jihad, Fatah, Hamas, and the two Democratic and Popular Front for Palestine Liberation movements are to head to Cairo for the dialogue.
WAFA reported that Cairo gave guarantees that such a meeting would lead to the end of the siege imposed on Gaza Strip.
