4 Feb 2009

Hamas says Egypt may open border for Gaza rebuild

4:59 pm on 4 February 2009

Egypt is considering opening its border crossing with the Gaza Strip to allow in reconstruction materials blocked by Israel after its 22-day offensive, according to a Hamas spokesman.

Following talks in Cairo, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said Egyptian officials were discussing the possibility of opening the Rafah crossing to allow in reconstruction materials, vehicles and shelters for those made homeless by the Israeli bombardment.

Hamas has demanded that Israel lift its blockade of the enclave, but the Jewish state so far has balked at letting in materials like glass, steel and cement needed for reconstruction.

Israeli officials assert that these materials could be used by Hamas to build rockets, bunkers and smuggling tunnels.

Israel has conditioned fully lifting its blockade on the release of a soldier captured by Gaza militants in a 2006 cross-border raid.

Mr Barhoum said another round of talks over the ceasefire would convene later on Tuesday night.

Egypt is trying to broker a longer-term truce in the Gaza Strip under which both Israel and Hamas would hold their fire.

Egypt also hoped to broker a reconciliation between Hamas Islamists and the secular Fatah faction of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Western-backed government is based in the occupied West Bank.