Radical Palestinian movement Hamas, which is in control of the Gaza Strip, has agreed to abide by a ceasefire following an appeal by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, according to official sources.
"President Wade has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between Israel and Palestine," the president's office spokesman El Hadj Amadou Sall said in a statement published by the pro-government Le Soleil daily.
"Hamas has already unilaterally declared that it would observe this ceasefire," said President Wade's spokesman, without giving any further details or specifying the beginning of Hamas' unilateral truce.
Further, the spokesman said that the radical Islamic movement had also promised to liberate "the Israeli prisoner of French origin in its possession," adding: "In these conditions, there is no doubt that the ongoing mediation could eventually lead to the normalization of relations between Israel and Palestine."
In a statement published in the state-run Le Soleil daily early this week, the Senegalese head of state had called on both Israel and Hamas to observe a cease-fire "from Monday, June 9 at 1200 GMT" in order to give dialogue a chance.
"There should be no more Israeli attacks or incursions into Gaza and Hamas must stop firing rockets towards Israel. In case of violation of the ceasefire by either party, I ask either of the parties to inform at the earliest opportunity," President Wade was quoted as saying in the statement.
In his statement, the head of state indicated that he had launched his mediation efforts "at the request of Israel and with the acceptance of the Palestinian side."
Last week, President Wade, who is also the sitting chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), had received delegations of Hamas and its rival President Abbas-led moderate Fatah movement, for inter-Palestinian discussions ahead of the latest diplomatic push to mediate between the two rivals.
Speaking at the end of the discussions, which took place in the capital Dakar, the Senegalese head of state was quoted as saying: "These talks, which lasted for two days, are marking the first round in a series of seven inter-Palestinian meetings."
Meanwhile, ongoing discussions between the Senegalese president and Hamas regarding the freedom of captive Israeli soldier Gilat Shalit are "very advanced," Babacar Gaye, spokesman of the ruling Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS), told a press conference Friday.
"The Israeli sergeant, who was kidnapped by the Hamas on June 25, 2006, could soon be handed over to President Abdoulaye Wade within the framework of his mediation efforts between the Israelis and Palestinians," the PDS spokesman was quoted as saying by the official Senegalese News Agency (APS).
Officially elected to the presidency of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) last March, the Senegalese head of state has decided to make the Palestinian question one of his "priorities."
"If President Wade manages to convince the Hamas to release the Israeli soldier, he would have accomplished a major coup in terms of diplomacy," said one Senegalese analyst.
Source: Xinhua
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