A visiting delegation of the Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement held fresh talks on Tuesday with Egyptian mediators in a bid to reach a durable ceasefire with Israel.

The Hamas delegation, led by Hamas leader Emad al-Alami, discussed with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman on means of cementing the truce in Gaza Strip and resuming an inter-Palestinian national unity dialogue.

The two sides are expected to hold more talks in the evening on the issues, the Egyptian MENA news agency quoted a reliable Egyptian source as saying.

Besides al-Alami, the Hamas team includes Mohamed Nasr, Gamal Abu-Hashim, Salah al-Bardaweel and Ayman Taha, said MENA.

Egypt has been engaged in intensive talks to broker a longer term truce between Israel and Hamas and help reach inter-Palestinian reconciliation.

Egypt has proposed a "lasting" truce between Israel and Palestinian militant groups as of February 5 and a fresh bout of the inter-Palestinian dialogue on February 22, which was boycotted by Hamas last November.

On Monday, Hamas spokesman in Gaza Fawzi Barhoum said that his movement is ready to accepted a one-year truce with Israel for lifting the blockade on Gaza and reopening the border crossings.

A six-month truce between Hamas and Israel brokered by Egypt expired on December 19. One week after it expired, Israel carried out a 22-day military operation on Gaza that ended on January 18.