Main obstacle in truce talks is Egypt — Hamas source

The main obstacle in indirect truce talks between Israel and Hamas, represented by a Palestinian delegation in Cairo, is Egypt, a Hamas source tells Israel Radio’s Palestinian Affairs correspondent Gal Berger.

The sources says it seems Egypt is in no real rush to reach a deal and that the Palestinian delegation is concerned mediators are not relaying Israel’s complete stance on all the issues back to the Palestinian side.

After submitting a document with all our demands, we received only a verbal response and nothing in writing, the Hamas source complains, Israel Radio reports.

He claims Egypt does not want to see Hamas emerge strengthened from this round of violence and proposes to incorporate European envoys, approved by Israel, into the mediation efforts.

If Israel insists on Egypt as the sole mediator, that would be a “big problem,” he says.

“We will not be overjoyed to resume fighting but that does not mean that, should we find ourselves with our backs to the wall, we will not do so,” the source is quoted by Israel Radio as saying.