Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations    

    GAZA, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Hamas on Tuesday expected the Egyptian efforts to broker a ceasefire will be completed next week when Egyptian intelligence chief visits Israel.

    If Israel accepts Hamas' proposals, which are being communicated through the Egyptians, the intelligence chief Omar Suliman will declare "the zero hour for the lull," said Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas leader in Gaza at a seminar of the Islamic University here.

    Zahar also warned that Israel will pay "a high price if it decides to reject" the ceasefire offers, adding that Hamas will no longer go back to Cairo for more discussions as it has already handed over its vision to the Egyptian mediators.

    Egypt is now holding talks with various Palestinian factions besides Hamas and Fatah to get a united support for its efforts to broker the ceasefire in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

    The ceasefire is expected to start first in the Gaza Strip. Hamas insists that the siege and economic sanctions, imposed on Gaza after Hamas took over the territory by force last June, must be lifted.

    Meanwhile, a Hamas lawmaker said the Islamic movement will not "unilaterally stick to the calmness," adding that the acceptance of all factions is needed.