Report: Hamas to offer Israel truce for boycott lift (Xinhua)

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Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has expressed willingness of offering ceasefire with Israel in exchange for the lift of boycott on the new Palestinian unity government, Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported on Wednesday.

JERUSALEM, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has expressed willingness of offering ceasefire with Israel in exchange for the lift of boycott on the new Palestinian unity government, Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported on Wednesday.

According to the report, a senior Hamas official told the daily on Tuesday that the Palestinians "will offer a promise from Hamas and Fatah of a total ceasefire with Israel, including a complete halt to Qassam (rocket) fire and suicide bombings," if Israel help the Palestinians lift the blockade on the future government.

However, Palestinians' overture only received cautious response from Israeli side, said the report.

Meanwhile, Miri Eisen, spokeswoman for Israeli Prime Ehud Olmert, was quoted by the daily that, "We need to see that you can actually implement the ceasefire (in Gaza) before we can consider an extension."