GAZA (Reuters) - Hamas said on Friday it has told Egyptian officials it would consider a ceasefire with Israel if it lifted its blockade of the Gaza Strip and ceased military operations in all Palestinian territories.
Hamas also discussed with Egyptian officials this week thepossibility of a prisoner deal that could lead to the releaseof Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, seized by Hamas in a 2006raid, in exchange for Israel freeing several hundreds ofPalestinians from its jails, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhrisaid.
Sources close to Hamas said Egypt, which brokered ayear-long truce between the Islamist group and Israel in 2005,had wanted to explore Hamas's position before holding anypossible talks with Israel.
Leading Hamas member Mahmoud al-Zahar travelled to Egypt onThursday to resume talks with the Egyptian government about theborder between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, which Hamas militantssmashed open last month seeking relief from an Israeliblockade.
"Hamas said it has no objection to studying the issue ifthe Israeli occupation would stop all forms of aggressionagainst our people and lift the siege," Abu Zuhri said,reiterating Hamas's position on a possible ceasefire.
Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June afterrouting the forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas'ssecular Fatah forces. Israel, which is pursuing peace talkswith Abbas, has since tightened sanctions on Gaza.
Senior U.N. official John Holmes, who visited Gaza onFriday, said he found "a grim human and humanitarian situation"in the coastal enclave and called for the blockade to belifted.
"People are not able to live with the basic dignity towhich they are entitled ... What is essentially needed is anopening of the crossings ... so that people can start to livemore normal and more dignified lives," said Holmes, theUndersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and EmergencyRelief Coordinator.
Palestinian militants blasted open the Rafah border wallwith Egypt last month allowing hundreds of thousands ofPalestinians to pour into Egyptian north Sinai to stock up ongoods in short supply due to the Israeli-led blockade. Theholes were closed several days later following Hamas-Egypttalks.
Abu Zuhri said Hamas and Egyptian officials discussed thepossible reopening of the Rafah crossing, but said some issueshad yet to be resolved.
Abbas has won some international support for a proposal tohandle security at the crossing, but he wields little controlin Gaza and Hamas has demanded a key role.
(Writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Richard Williams)
