Hamas agrees to allow Fatah forces to patrol Rafah crossing

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The London-based Asharq al-Awsat reported Saturday that Hamas has suggested representatives of the Palestinian Authority be stationed at the Rafah crossing, but that they be residents of Gaza, not the West Bank.

Also on Saturday, Hamas officials laid out some of their conditions for a continuation of the Gaza truce and for the release of captured Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.

A Hamas delegation comprising representatives from Gaza and Damascus traveled to Cairo is to meet with Egyptian officials on Sunday. One Hamas official reiterated the group's demand that Shalit be freed as part of a larger prisoner exchange, and that his release not be tied to the issue of opening Gaza's border crossings.

Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha told Asharq Al-Awsat that his group wants European Union and Turkish troops to patrol Gaza's border crossings with Israel.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1058242.html