Hamas leaders announced Thursday night that they had worked out a general framework for a temporary ceasefire with Israel in Gaza. An 18-month ceasefire is likely to be announced within the next three days, they said.
Senior Hamas member Mousa Abu-Marzuk said Hamas is waiting for Israel to approve details of the ceasefire deal.
Hamas leaders and Israeli diplomats have been meeting with Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss the possibility of a ceasefire since the Cast Lead operation in Gaza began to wind down in mid-January. In the meantime, Gaza terrorists have continued firing on southern Israel, but for the most part have avoided targeting major cities.
Egyptian media also reported progress on Thursday. An anonymous senior official was quoted as saying Egypt would release a statement within hours announcing significant progress in talks with Hamas.
Nazal: Rearming is our Right
While Hamas leaders in Cairo spoke of a ceasefire, another senior Hamas official spoke in Turkey regarding the group's plans to rearm. “We have every right to hold on to our weapons,” Hamas leader Mohammed Nazal proclaimed.
"Our Arab brothers are negotiating with us about stopping weapons smuggling,” he continued. “We don't even have a concept called 'weapons smuggling.' The weapons are not smuggled, cell phones and other forbidden items are smuggled, but we have a right to weapons.”
Hamas hopes not only to replenish its weapons supplies, but to upgrade, Nazal said. “We see that our brothers in [Hamas terrorist brigade] Azadin el-Kassam have Grads with a range of 40 kilometers, and we want Grads with a range of 80 kilometers,” he explained.