January 01, 2009	Thursday	Muharram 03, 1430

MOSCOW: Hamas is ready to halt its attacks on Israel if the Jewish state lifts its blockade of Gaza, Russia’s foreign ministry announced on Wednesday.

In a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the head of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, “voiced readiness to cease armed confrontation but on condition of the lifting of the blockade of Gaza”, the ministry said.

In a statement, the foreign ministry said Lavrov underlined the need for both sides to cease fire immediately and said Russia was “deeply worried” about the humanitarian situation. He said Russia would be dispatching humanitarian aid to Gaza “in a short time” and also stressed the importance of restoring unity within the divided Palestinian leadership.

Meshaal promised Hamas would do all it could to ensure the evacuation of Russian citizens from Gaza but said this effort was complicated by Israel’s offensive in the territory.—AFP