Leaders of Hamas and other terrorist groups based in Gaza will meet in Egypt next week to discuss Israel's answer to their proposal for calm in the violence in the region. Hamas, negotiating through Egyptian mediators, demanded that Israel halt counterterrorist operations for six months.
The Israeli government stated Tuesday that it would not consider an agreement without the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Officials also fear that Hamas would use a temporary truce to stockpile advanced weapons. Hamas already has said that the issue of Shalit has no connection with a calm or truce. "We will listen and, depending on that, a decision will be made," Hamas official Ayman Taha told Reuters News Agency.