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Palestinians waiting to cross the Rafah border into Egypt, on Sunday. (AP) Last update - 12:57 14/05/2008 Hamas delegation to hold talks on Gaza truce next week in Egypt By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Egypt, Gaza  Ayman Taha, a spokesman for Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip, said Wednesday that Egyptian mediator Omar Sulieman has invited Hamas officials to hear Israel's response to a proposed Egyptian truce deal. "They'll be in Egypt on Sunday," Taha said. Suleiman was in Israel this week to discuss the truce efforts. Advertisement He's been trying for months to clinch a truce between Israel and Gaza militants. Palestinian militants routinely fire rockets at Israeli communities near Gaza, and Israeli forces retaliate with often-deadly air and ground operations. Hamas and Israel have each put foward tough conditions for a truce to occur. Defense officials: Egypt to open Rafah, cease-fire or not Egypt will reopen the Rafah crossing to Palestinians even if Cairo's initiative to mediate a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas fails, according to assessments by Israeli defense officials. The Israel Defense Forces, meanwhile, is taking steps to be able to limit mass marches to the fence separating Gaza and Israel. Although Egypt denies it, evidence is mounting that Cairo and Hamas recently reached an understanding to open the crossing regardless of the outcome of the negotiations. Israeli officials on Monday told Suleiman during his visit to Israel that Jerusalem would not agree to a cease-fire unless substantial progress is made in negotiations for the release of Gilad Shalit, the IDF soldier abducted by Hamas in June 2006. Defense officials also told Suleiman that Israel would not agree to open the Rafah crossing without such progress, conditioning their consent on Shalit's release to Egypt. Suleiman expressed reservations about the demand, arguing that a cease-fire would help facilitate the deal for Shalit's release. However, Egypt could reopen the crossing without Israel's consent as part of Cairo's negotiations with Hamas. If Egypt does that, it would be violating understandings on the crossing it undertook under American pressure in November 2005. The agreement Egypt signed then put the crossing under European supervision under security requirements demanded by Israel. The crossing has remained all but sealed since Hamas' seizure of power in the Gaza Strip last June, after which Israel imposed a strict blockade on the enclave. The Palestinian Authority firmly objects to the prospect of reopening the crossing. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is insisting on the presence of PA security forces at the site. Meanwhile, the Palestinians today begin two days of protest to commemorate what they call the Nakba (catastrophe) - the establishment of the State of Israel. The IDF is preparing to counter a possible attempt by Hamas to have thousands of Palestinians march to the fence separating Israel from the Gaza Strip. Related articles: Let's make a deal Jihad: We won't sign cease-fire, but won't be first to violate it At Gaza border with Egypt, masses make reverse exodus into Sinai Bookmark to del.icio.us   Grass is greener For the cannabis-growing residents of Lebanon, recent fighting has been a blessing. Piggy bank savings Welfare Minister Herzog unveils a plan to open savings accounts for every Israeli child.   1.   EGYPTIANS HAD TO DO SOMETHING 05:07  |  newsreader 14/05/08   2.   A breakthrough? 05:27  |  Mark Lincoln 14/05/08   3.   If Israelis were forced 05:33  |  Mark Lincoln 14/05/08   4.   #1 05:48  |  Jim Black 14/05/08   5.   Is this another step toward having Egypt assuming control over 06:18  |  Amir 14/05/08   6.   #1 newsreader 06:37  |  * BEN JABO 14/05/08   7.   Finally! 06:52  |  Jake 14/05/08   8.   It`s doubful that Shalit will be EVER BE released 07:15  |  * BEN JABO 14/05/08   9.   Excellent idea Amire 07:34  |  David Price 14/05/08   10.   Egypt cannot be trusted. 08:40  |  Jean Van Daem 14/05/08   11.   This Gaza!!! to this Israeli Amir 10:05  |  M 14/05/08   12.   2005 Agreement is Long Expired 10:20  |  Mark of Lewiston 14/05/08   13.   #2, MarkL and his monsters 10:24  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 14/05/08   14.   JEAN Van Daem 10:33  |  newsreader 14/05/08   15.   I agree with you, Amir and David Price. The only realistic way to 10:37  |  Eliayu Arbeli 14/05/08   16.   #3, MarkL, the Qassam hope for peace 10:59  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 14/05/08   17.   Egypt now allows smuggling WMD`s to Hamas 11:31  |  Concerned Citizen 14/05/08   18.   #5, #9 and #15 Are Just The Funniest Guys! 12:50  |  Johnboy 14/05/08   19.   Cipora Julianna Kohn #13 12:52  |  Guido 14/05/08   20.   trying to get some pece 12:54  |  zeew 14/05/08   21.   Indeed, the "catastrophe" from an Arab perspective, is the ... 13:39  |  Amihai 14/05/08   22.   EGYPT TAKING "ONE SIDED" 13:54  |  Robert 14/05/08   23.   # 11 M of Gaza....understanding the feelings 14:41  |  Lynn 14/05/08   24.   Lynn/M of Gaza - Making Lemonade 18:13  |  Mark of Lewiston 14/05/08   25.   Mark of Lewiston - Seige not a failure 22:44  |  Reid 14/05/08   26.   #17 Concerned Citizen 18:33  |  * BEN JABO 15/05/08

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