Hamas 'to decide on truce in hours'

Dubai: Hamas is still discussing the Egyptian proposal to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, a Hamas leader confirmed on Tuesday.

Speaking to Gulf News, Hamas politburo member Mohammad Nazal, responded to a question about press reports which said Hamas negotiators would reject the Egyptian proposals.

"No. No," Nazal replied to the question on whether Hamas had rejected the proposal.

"A Hamas delegation has met with [Egyptian Intelligence Chief] Omar Sulaiman and informed him about Hamas's reservations."

The Palestinian group is expected to announce its stance in a few hours, Nazal stressed. At the moment, the group has many reservations on the proposal, of which one is related to the duration of the proposed truce, he explained.

"We are rejecting any permanent truce," Nazal said. The group is seeking a timetable for the Israeli withdrawal and that the pullout should coincide with the beginning of the ceasefire. Hamas has also insisted on lifting the siege imposed on Gaza for more than a year.

Foreign observers

Apart from the proposed ceasefire, the Egyptian initiative also called for the presence of foreign observers on the Rafah border post - a suggestion Hamas rejects.

Meanwhile, Sulaiman has left the task of holding more talks with the Hamas delegation to his aides, according to press reports.

He left Cairo on Tuesday to accompany Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on his visit to Riyadh for talks with Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on the Israeli war on Gaza.

Ban due in region

The Egyptian-Saudi summit is part of the intensive ongoing diplomatic contacts on the conflict, which has killed and injured thousands - almost half of them women and children. The Israeli assault has caused an outburst of anger and frustration among Arabs

Moreover, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was heading to the region for a week of talks with leaders in Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Syria aimed at ending the bloodshed.

"My message is simple, direct, and to the point: the fighting must stop. To both sides, I say: Just stop now," Ban told reporters before his departure.

Arab foreign ministers are scheduled to hold an emergency meeting in Kuwait on Friday to discuss the situation in Gaza, few days ahead of an Arab Economic Summit in Kuwait.

Qatar has called for an extraordinary Arab summit in Doha on Friday. No confirmation is available that the meeting will go ahead. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed readiness to participate in the summit.