Hamas leader Khaled Mashal said this morning (Friday) that his terrorist group's contacts with international bodies to establish a ceasefire in Gaza are necessary. However, he added that there is still no agreement and the ball is now in Israel's court.
"Tony Blair and others have spoken to us about a hudna, a calm, and a period of time," said Mashal. "We told them that we must solve Gaza's problems now. A process such as this will prepare the ground for a ceasefire."
The concept of a hudna comes from an incident in the Quran, when Muhammed offered a temporary peace, then attacked after rearming.