CAIRO - HAMAS has proposed a year-long truce with Israel in exchange for its withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the blockade of the embattled enclave, a senior Hamas official said early on Friday.

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Mr Mussa Abu Marzuk, the Damascus-based deputy head of the group's powerful politburo, said the offer was made by a Hamas delegation to Egyptian authorities during talks in Cairo and that the Islamist movement was waiting for Israel's response.

Asked about reports Hamas had proposed a one-year-long renewable truce with Israel, Mr Abu Marzuk said: 'Those were the movement's remarks on the Egyptian initiative, this is what we proposed'.

A Hamas official had said on Wednesday after meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman that the movement had accepted the 'broad outlines' of an Egyptian truce plan without approving it outright.

A Western diplomat familiar with the truce talks brokered by Egypt, confirmed that Hamas had proposed a year-long renewable truce with Israel but said that the Jewish state expressed reservations.

Senior Israeli defence official Amos Gilad had met Suleiman on Thursday to be briefed on Hamas's position before returning to Israel to make his report to the government.

Mr Gilad was due to return to Cairo on Friday for more talks with the Egyptian authorities, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said in a statement.

'We are waiting for an Egyptian response after they speak with Gilad,' Mr Abu Marzuk said. 'The Egyptian side has not responded in regards to Israel's reaction.'

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak last week presented a three-point proposal to end Israel's offensive against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of close to 1,100 Palestinians.

The initiative called for an immediate ceasefire and allowing humanitarian aid into the impoverished enclave as well as ending arms smuggling between Egypt and Gaza.

Israel has conditioned ending its offensive on a halt to militant rocket fire from Gaza against southern Israel and creating a mechanism to stem weapons smuggling between Egypt and the Islamists-ruled enclave.

The Western diplomat also said that Hamas had refused to allow representatives of Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

Egypt has refused to permanently open the crossing - a key Hamas demand - citing a 2005 agreement that required EU monitors and PA representatives at the crossing.

Abu Marzuk said Hamas had agreed to allow EU monitors at the crossing.

But he warned that 'there will be no ceasefire if the siege continues to be enforced'.

Israel imposed has imposed a punitive blockade on the Gaza Strip ever since Hamas took control of the territory in June 2007. -- AFP

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