Hamas to Negotiate Peace Talks

GAZA CITY - Palestinian Islamist group said it might be willing to agree to a new truce with Israel.  Gaza Strip is ruled by Hamas. “Senior Hamas leader Mahmud Zahar  said that the movement may consider extending the temporary lull and agreeing to a new long-term truce, following the end of a six-month ceasefire. Hamas is ready to renew the truce "if Israel respects the conditions of a ceasefire," he said. "We demand that Israel respect truce conditions... in particular that it stop all form of aggression and open the border crossings," said Zahar, one of Hamas's leaders.His comments came days before Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni went to Cairo to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for talks on this situation in Gaza.
Israel has cut off much movement of goods and people in and out of the territory since June 2007 after Hamas, which is sworn to Israel's destruction, seized Gaza by ousting forces loyal to secular Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. Aid groups have repeatedly appealed to Israel to lift its restrictions -- which at times have seen Gaza sealed off completely -- to avoid a humanitarian crisis in the overcrowded territory where most of the population depends on foreign aid. “Speaking in Cairo, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said that a truce in Gaza was essential to advance the staggering Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.” "Nothing will be possible if the truce is not continued, if there is no real truce," he said.