Mixed signals from Hamas on Egypt’s proposal

The Hamas leadership was meeting in Qatar Friday to discuss Egypt’s long-term ceasefire proposal, and there were conflicting reports over whether it would accept the deal (and no comment on the terms from Israel).

AP late Friday quoted an unnamed Hamas official saying the radical Islamist organization was inclined to accept the Egyptian-mediated offer. It said the group had all but accepted the terms and was currently finalizing the wording. This, even though the official acknowledged that the proposed terms gave Israel “the upper hand.”

But Israel’s Channel 2, quoting Hamas sources Friday night, said the Egyptian offer “doesn’t give Hamas a thing,” and that while most other Palestinian factions were inclined to accept it, Hamas — under the Qatar-based political bureau chief Khaled Mashaal — was not.

The Egyptian proposal speaks of lifting the Israeli and Egyptian security blockade on Gaza, imposed after the Islamist terror group seized control of Gaza seven years ago to prevent Hamas importing more weaponry. But any such easing of restrictions would apparently be overseen by Israeli and Egyptian forces on their sides of Gaza’s borders, and by the Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas on the Gaza side. The PA — which Hamas ousted violently from Gaza in 2007 — would also play a dominant role in the reconstruction of post-conflict Gaza.

The Egyptian formula also pushes off negotiations on the opening of a Gaza seaport and airport — key Hamas demands in recent weeks.

— Read our full story here.