Hamas says Israel wants open ceasefire without time limit

Gaza City - Israel has rejected an 18-month ceasefire with Hamas and wants an open lull without a time-limit, the Islamist Hamas movement on Saturday said. Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said that Egypt, which has mediated between Israel and Hamas, and his movement can't accept such an open lull in accordance with Israel's request.

"The ceasefire agreement was drawn up and was waiting to be made public by Egypt but Israel put obstacles by calling for an open ceasefire without any time ceiling," Barhoum added.

Egypt is holding talks with Israel in a bid to overcome the new obstacles, and a Hamas delegation will stay in Cairo to follow up these talks, according to Barhoum.

"When Egypt succeeds in convincing Israel to accept the 18-month ceasefire, it will announce the reaching of the deal," Barhoum continued.

Meanwhile, Barhoum says the efforts for a ceasefire go in parallel with Egyptian efforts to broker a reconciliation between feuding Palestinian factions, mainly Hamas' and president Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.