Thirty members of various Palestinian factions will hold talks in Cairo with Egyptian mediators to discuss a comprehensive truce with Israel and the lack of unity among the divided factions, ash Sharq al-Awsat reports.
Mohammed al-Baba of the Popular Resistance Committees says that the groups will meet Tuesday with Egypt’s intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman. A prisoner swap involving a number of Palestinians for kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is also in the agenda.
Hamas says it wants a six-month truce. Israel dismissed the offer, saying Hamas will use the time to rearm after sustaining heavy losses in recent fighting. As analyst Shoshan Haberman documented in 2003, Hamas increases its capabilities during ceasefires, only to launch more brutal rounds of violence.
