Israeli infantry reservist soldiers on the Israeli-Gaza border as they prepare to deploy into the Gaza Strip. The defiant leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip vowed on Monday the Islamists would emerge victorious from the war in the Palestinian territory as Israeli tanks advanced on the main city. (AFP/Jack Guez)From Reuters:
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Hamas is set to reject Egypt's proposals to end Israel's 17-day-old offensive in the Gaza Strip, Lebanese political sources close to the group said on Monday.
The sources said Hamas negotiators who returned to Cairo on Monday night after consulting their leaders in Damascus, would relay Hamas's negative response in talks on Tuesday with Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.
One senior source said the group was opposed to three key elements in the proposal, worked on by Egypt and international diplomats in recent days.
"Hamas opposes a long-term truce -- the Egyptians speak of 15 years --, it is opposed to any cease-fire being set without it being accompanied by immediate pullout of Israeli troops from newly occupied positions in Gaza, and the presence of foreign observers on the Rafah crossing point," the source said.
Read more ....