Solana hopes Israel-Hamas truce will hold

Jun 19, 2008, 11:12 GMT

Brussels - European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he hoped the truce that came into effect on Thursday between Israel and Palestinian militant movements in the Gaza Strip could hold.

And he said it was too early to say whether the EU could begin holding direct talks with Hamas, which the bloc considers a terrorist organization.

'I welcome very much (the truce). I know there has been a long negotiation with Egypt, and I hope very much that the truce will hold,' Solana said in Brussels.

Solana also expressed hope that the opening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt could go according to plan.

Asked whether the EU was now ready to hold talks with Hamas, Solana said that while the bloc's policy had not changed, the truce could create 'a dynamic that will allow political dialogue to continue.'

'Our main concern is about how the truce will hold,' he said.

Brokered by Egypt after months of violence, the six-month-long ceasefire came into effect at 6 am (0300 GMT) Thursday.

The first stage of the three-phase ceasefire entails a mutual end of hostilities.

The second stage is to begin after progress in talks on a prisoner exchange which would see the release of an Israeli soldier held captive by Hamas in Gaza for the past two years.

As part of this stage, the Egypt-Gaza border crossing of Rafah would open for one or two days a week and Israel would allow more goods into the Gaza Strip.

When a deal is reached on the soldier's release, stage three will begin, including the daily reopening of the Rafah crossing and a complete lifting of Israel's economic blockade of Gaza.