Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    JERUSALEM, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Israel has told Egypt that the Jewish state is willing to resume the ceasefire with the armed Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, local news service Ynet reported Thursday on its website.

    Amos Gilad, a senior Israeli Defense Ministry official who is currently heading Israel's indirect negotiations with the Palestinian groups in the Hamas-controlled territory, made the remarks to Egyptian officials in Cairo Wednesday, said Ynet.

    Gilad told the Egyptians that as far as Israel was concerned, the latest round of violence, which included Israel Defense Forces raids in Gaza and Palestinian rocket barrages on southern Israel, was over, according to the report.

    The negotiator further told Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman that Israel was prepared to extend the ceasefire beyond Dec. 19 end-date, said the report.

    The Egyptian-brokered ceasefire, which took effect on June 19, was left near collapse since a wave of violence erupted on Nov. 4.Both sides had generally honored the truce before the recent flare-up, and Israeli officials have voiced willingness to extend the ceasefire after its initial six-month phase.

    Gilad said during the meeting that Israel would reopen the Gaza goods crossings once the Qassam rocket fire emanating from Gaza ceases, adding that dozens of trucks carrying humanitarian aid were allowed to enter Gaza on Wednesday.

    Gilad's monthly visit was defined by Israeli Defense Ministry as "routine", but officials said it would have been cancelled had Israel not been interested in resuming the ceasefire.