 Hamas leader Ghazi Hamad |
A senior Hamas official says the movement is willing to negotiate a long-term truce with Israel if Gazan borders are opened to the world.
"We want to be part of the international community. I think Hamas has no interest now to increase the number of crises in Gaza or to challenge the world," Hamas official Ghazi Hamad told AP.
Hamas leaders in the past have spoken about a long-term truce with Israel, saying they want international recognition as much as an end to the blockade of the impoverished Gaza Strip.
Israel nonetheless abominates the notion of engaging the Palestinian resistance movement.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told the Maariv daily earlier this week that engaging in dialogue with Hamas would be a strategic mistake, insisting that Israel advocates dialogue with the moderates and displaying toughness against the extremists.
Meanwhile, the Obama administration's new Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, who arrived in Israel on Wednesday, has called for the strengthening of the ceasefire in Gaza.
This is while on the same day the Israeli military displayed the fragility of the ceasefire by launching air strikes on Gazan tunnels along the border with Egypt.
Mitchell said the new US administration is committed to vigorously pursuing lasting peace and stability.
"The decision by President Obama to dispatch me to come to this region less than one week after his inauguration is clear and tangible evidence of this commitment," he added.
Over 1,300 Gazans - mostly women and children - were killed in Israel's 23-day Operation Cast Lead. At least 5,450 others were wounded in the offensive. The fighting stopped on January 18 after both sides separately declared a ceasefire.
This is while on the same day the Israeli military displayed the fragility of the ceasefire by launching air strikes on Gazan tunnels along the border with Egypt.
Mitchell said the new US administration is committed to vigorously pursuing lasting peace and stability.
"The decision by President Obama to dispatch me to come to this region less than one week after his inauguration is clear and tangible evidence of this commitment," he added.
Over 1,300 Gazans - mostly women and children - were killed in Israel's 23-day Operation Cast Lead. At least 5,450 others were wounded in the offensive. The fighting stopped on January 18 after both sides separately declared a ceasefire.
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