Hamas is awaiting the outcome of Tuesday's Israeli election to know whether a long-term cease-fire agreement in Gaza Strip can be reached, senior Hamas member Osama Hamdan told AFP. Egypt has been mediating between Israel and the Gaza Strip's rulers since mutual truce ended the 22-day war on the territory on January 18.
Egypt's state news agency MENA reported that a Gaza-based Hamas officials returned to Cairo for more talks on Tuesday, but Lebanon-based Hamdan told AFP that the movement was awaiting the Israeli election result. "We're following the Israeli election. The election taking place today will determine what will happen," he said.
"If (right-wing Likud leader Benjamin) Netanyahu wins, I don't think that the current government will conclude an agreement. If the current government wins, they could reach an agreement."
MENA said the Hamas delegation in Cairo on Tuesday, which includes senior members Ayman Taha and Gamel Abu Hashem, would "resume efforts to reach a cooling off." They will "present the movement's final stand regarding cooling off with Israel and receive the response of the other factions regarding proposals for activating the cooling off and discuss them with Egyptian officials."
According to Hamdan, pending the Israeli election outcome, Hamas was continuing its contacts to resolve sticking points, particularly on how to reopen Gaza's crossing points.
