Egypt denied on Tuesday a report in an Israeli newspaper that President Hosni Mubarak had told European ministers on a peace mission that Hamas must not be allowed to win the ongoing war in Gaza. The daily Haaretz reported on its website that Mubarak made the remark on Monday to a visiting European Union delegation, which included several European foreign ministers.
"If an Israeli newspaper published comments such as these, non-attributed, from a closed meeting, how credible can it be?" said foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki.
The report came on the day a Hamas delegation was expected in Cairo to discuss an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit has blamed Hamas, for provoking the conflict, saying the Palestinian group had given Israel the opportunity "on a golden platter." "There is an obvious reason for Israel at this moment to further the wedge that has been driven between Egypt and Hamas," said Zaki. "Such manoeuvres do not serve the purpose of finding a quick end to this situation."
