December 20, 2007 (LPAC)--Hamas's leader Khaled Mashaal yesterday instructed Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas-led government in the Gaza Strip, to call a reporter to convey to the Israeli government the message that Hamas was interested in negotiating a ceasefire, according to the Palestinian "Pal Press" agency, which cited "informed Arab Sources."

Damascus-based Mashaal also reportedly demanded that Haniyeh's forces maintain quiet along the border with Israel. According to reports from Ha'aretz and the Jerusalem Post, Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip are working with the other Palestinian groups in Gaza to stop rocket attacks on Israel. The offer from Hamas to Israel is for a third-party, possibly Egypt, to negotiate the ceasefire. Egyptian defense officials said today that Israel is examining the Hamas ceasefire proposal carefully.

Former Israeli Defense Minister, and now Transportation Minister, Shaul Mofaz said in an interview on Israeli Army Radio, that "Israel had already engaged in contacts with Hamas through mediators on issues such as the efforts to bring home kidnapped soldier Gilad Schalit, so there was no reason not to do the same to end the rocket attacks." Mofaz added, "I think mediation is something to think about."

Former head of Shin Beth, the Israeli Secret Service, Ami Ayalon, said, "Israel should not rule out speaking to 'anyone' in order to stop rocket attacks from Gaza."