Hamas: Gaza truce agreement near

Israeli and Hamas negotiators have "almost reached agreement" on a long-term truce for Gaza, a spokesman for Hamas said today

Israeli and Hamas negotiators have "almost reached agreement" on a long-term truce for Gaza, a spokesman for Hamas said today.

Tahir Annono, who is in Cairo for the truce meetings, told CNN that more meetings would take place today and tomorrow, and an announcement would be made on Sunday. It was not immediately clear if Israel was in agreement.

Hamas' deputy leader, Moussa Abu Marzouk, said the truce would last for 18 months and that all commercial border crossings between Gaza and Israel would be opened.

Marzouk spoke after a meeting between representatives of Hamas and Egyptian intelligence officials. Egypt has been working to broker an agreement between the two sides.

Israel and Hamas, the Islamic militant group that has ruled Gaza since 2007, declared separate, tentative cease-fires in January following more than three weeks of fighting in Gaza.

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