Hamas-controlled Gaza is close to declaring a ceasefire with Israel under a deal proposed by Egyptian mediators, Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki said Wednesday in Spain. "I think we are very close to announcing a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that will allow the blockade of the border area to be lifted and also end Israeli incursions and the launch rockets of Hamas into southern Israel," he told a conference in Madrid.
Malki was speaking a day before US President George W. Bush is to hold talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in Washington as part of diplomatic efforts to try to revive the flagging Mideast peace process.
Israel has sealed the impoverished territory of about 1.4 million people off from all but vital humanitarian aid since the Islamist Hamas movement -- pledged to the destruction of the Jewish state -- took power there in June.
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