Senior officials close to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed veiled criticism at Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday for his backing of Egypt's truce efforts conducted via Defense Ministry Security-Diplomatic Bureau chief Amos Gilad.
"Hamas senior officials see these images and hear these voices and draw encouragement from the notion that Israel is looking for a way out. We regret the irresponsibility of ministers leaking information regarding their own private initiatives - as high ranking as these ministers may be," officials said.
Earlier on Wednesday, after Gilad's arrival in Cairo was postponed to Thursday, it was widely reported that a potential truce would initially consist of a slowing down of IDF activities followed by a temporary ceasefire and a halt to troop movement into the Gaza Strip. Agreements with Egypt regarding smuggling into the Strip would then be finalized, including the introduction of US monitors, and, after calm has been reached, a full cease-fire would be established and IDF forces would withdraw from Gaza.
In the prime minister's milieu, officials expressed regret that news of the potential draft for a ceasefire had been revealed "on behalf of government ministers, of all sources."
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