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Hamas Rejects a Long-term Truce with Israel

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Islamic Hamas movement's leaders on Sunday rejected to reach a long-term ceasefire agreement with Israel, saying a ceasefire with a limited period of time is acceptable.

Senior Hamas leader in Gaza Ismail Radwan told reporters in Gaza that Hamas delegation heading to Cairo is "not to agree on a long-term ceasefire, but to discuss the reinforcing of the truce between Israel and Gaza factions."

"The talks in Cairo aim at reaching a limited ceasefire that doesn't exceed one year, then we can re-discuss it before it ends," Radwan said, adding that "reopening the crossings and rebuilding Gaza will be issues to be discussed."

"We won't accept a long term truce that kills the armed resistance, because resistance is a legal right for the Palestinian people as long as there is an occupation," he added.

Hamas delegation has arrived in Cairo Friday for talks with senior Egyptian officials to discuss a renewal of the truce with Israel. Other Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) factions also arrived in Cairo on Sunday.

"We won't accept less than reopening all the border crossing points between Gaza and Israel and also Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Simply we won't accept a truce that doesn't end the (Israeli) aggression," said Radwan.

Although Israel announced that its 22-day military offensive on Gaza has achieved its goals, Hamas movement said that Israel failed to break the Palestinian armed resistance.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2009)

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