Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Hamas has been dismayed by Egypt’s mediation of a ceasefire with Israel.

Hamas has signaled its dismay in more than two weeks of mediation by Egypt for a ceasefire with Israel. Hamas sources said Egypt sought to harden’s Israel’s positions on such issues as demilitarization, a Gaza sea port and weapons tunnels.

“Egypt is inserting its own positions under the name of Israel,” a Hamas source said. “This is unacceptable.”

On Aug. 13, Israel state radio quoted a Hamas official as saying that Egypt has ended its role as an honest broker. The unidentified Hamas official said Egypt has demonstrated a harder line in the negotiations than Israel.

“Egypt hates Hamas,” the official was quoted as saying.

On late Aug. 13, Israel reported rocket fire from the Gaza Strip as the latest 72-hour ceasefire ended. Hamas denied any link to the latest attack.

“The heavy losses of the Palestinian people do not permit us to negotiate and compromise on their demands,” former Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said. “No permanent ceasefire agreement can be reached without the removal of the blockade on Gaza.”

The United States has sought to replace Egypt with allies Qatar and Turkey. But Israel insisted that it would only deal with Cairo, deemed close to the Jewish state.

So far, Israel has agreed to virtually all of Hamas demands, including the lifting of the siege of the Gaza Strip, the construction of a Gaza port and the release of Palestinian prisoners. But Hamas sources acknowledged that Israel’s condition for its concessions was the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.

“The Israeli positions seem promising, but without Egypt’s agreement nothing will be implemented,” the source said.

  Gaza Strip, Hamas complains mediator Egypt has taken harder line than Israel in ceasefire talks, Ismail Haniyeh