Israeli official denies Jordanian report on secret Israel-Hamas talks

An Israeli official on Tuesday denied a Jordanian report saying Israel has conducted talks with the Islamic Hamas movement over building a floating port to enable the transfer of goods to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

The report is plainly "not true," the Israeli official, who asked to remain anonymous as he is not at liberty to discuss the topic, told Xinhua.

Earlier in the day, the Jordanian daily Ad-Dustour quoted Western diplomats as reporting that the floating port to be situated in the Mediterranean Sea between the coasts of Cyprus and the Gaza Strip.

The report also said the territory of the Gaza Strip would be expanded into the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.

However, Israeli media outlets, such as the Ha'aretz daily and Times of Israel, reported Israeli and Palestinian officials' doubts about the authenticity of the report.

Last summer, Israel launched a 50-day military operation against the Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza, which ended with an indefinite truce, including Hamas' demand of the construction of a seaport on the Gaza Strip coast. But since then, there were no official reports about the status of the dialogue between Israel and Hamas.

Israel has been denying direct negotiations with Hamas, though the two sides have held indirect talks over ceasefires and prisoner exchanges.

Along with Egypt, Israel has imposed a blockade on the Strip since Hamas took over Gaza in 2007, two years after Israel evacuated its citizens and soldiers from the communities there, and has controlled the passages of people and merchandise.

Over the years, Israel has eased the blockade in response to international pressure but never completely lifted it. Endit