Hamas official: ceasefire possible within 48 hours (Extra)

Jan 7, 2009, 19:27 GMT

Tel Aviv - A senior Hamas official in Gaza told an Israeli Website Wednesday that a ceasefire with Israel could be reached within 48 hours.

'In the light of all the diplomatic efforts ongoing right now, I am convinced we will succeed in finding a formula agreeable to both sides within 48 hours,' Ahmed Yousef, a senior Hamas political figure and advisor to deposed prime minister Ismail Haniya, told the Ynet website.

However, he repeated Hamas' demands for a ceasefire, including that Israel stop its strikes and end the blockade it imposed on the enclave. He also required an end to the international boycott of the militant movement.

He said the movement was still debating a proposal for an international force on the Rafah border with Egypt, though an unnamed member of Hamas' armed wing said it would never agree to such a proposal.

'We don't want to replace the Israeli occupation with a foreign occupation,' Yousef said. He also struck a defiant tone, adding later 'we will never give up. Either we win, or we die.'

Israeli officials said earlier they welcomed an Egyptian-French proposal for a ceasefire, but insisted an end to fighting include a mechanism to prevent weapons smuggling to militants in Gaza.