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Israel-Hamas ceasefire on the anvil

— Photo: AP

Economic hardship: Children coming home from schools in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip.

DUBAI: A ceasefire between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel is expected to take effect by the end of the week, Israeli defence officials have said.

The possible deal is the result of mediation by Egypt, which has been engaging representatives of Hamas and the Israelis. A Hamas delegation is in Cairo, and is holding talks with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman. Amos Gilad, head of the diplomatic-security bureau of the Defence Ministry has been Israel’s point person, holding separate discussions with the Egyptians.

The agreement will be enforced progressively in stages, and is aimed at ensuring durable calm and reduction of economic hardship for the residents of Gaza.

Significantly, Israel is not insisting on the release of its soldier Gilad Schalit, captured by the Hamas as a precondition for the ceasefire.

Instead, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said “advancing the release” of Cpl. Schalit is “an inseparable part of the effort to achieve calm in the South.”

In the first stage, Hamas will cease all attacks against Israeli targets. In return, Israel will stop all operations in the Gaza strip.

In case the calm continues to last for several weeks, Israel will gradually start lifting the siege between Israel’s border crossings with the Gaza strip.

The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt would be re-opened if headway is made during talks on Cpl. Schalit’s release.

Analysts point out that any lasting deal with Hamas would have to involve the release of Palestinian prisoners that Israel is holding.

Hamas is likely to seek the release of 450 prisoners who are languishing in Israeli jails.

Meanwhile, Hamas and its Palestinian rival Fatah are set to begin reconciliation talks on Tuesday.

Fatah representative in the West Bank Hikmat Zeid will visit Gaza for the talks — the first such dialogue in Gaza between the two factions since Hamas took control of the coastal strip a year ago.

The meeting follows an agreement between the two factions in Dakar to address their differences.

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