Special report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts

    CAIRO, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian mediators and representatives of the Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement resumed talks here Tuesday on an Egyptian proposal calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

    The talks were held between Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman and the Hamas delegation led by the movement's political bureau member Emad al Alami, said the Egyptian MENA news agency, without elaborating details of the meeting.

    According to earlier reports, the talks between Egyptian mediators and Hamas representatives reached a "positive outcome" on Sunday.

    Egypt and Hamas "shared unanimous views on the need to reach an immediate ceasefire to stem Palestinian bloodletting," MENA quoted an Egyptian official source as saying on condition of anonymity.

    During his talks with the Hamas delegation, Suleiman explained the Egyptian initiative, the source added.

    On Jan. 6, during talks with visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak presented a three-point proposal, which calls for an immediate ceasefire for a limited period to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and give Egypt time to continue its efforts to help reach a lasting truce.

    Egypt would invite both Israel and the Palestinians for negotiation and help resume the inter-Palestinian reconciliation talks, according to the proposal.

    Egypt has also been in contacts with Israel and parties concerned for talks on the ceasefire proposal.

    Amos Gilad, head of the Israeli Defense Ministry's Security-Diplomatic Bureau, is expected to visit Cairo soon for the second time in a week for talks with Egyptian officials over a possible ceasefire.

    As the massive Israeli attacks entered the 18th day, the death toll of Palestinians has risen to about 930, with more than 4,100 injured.