Gaza, Nov 20: A senior Hamas leader said late last night that the Islamic resistance movement had officially received an invitation to attend peace talks with the Palestinian leadership. The talks would take place in Cairo on December 2.

Mahmoud Azzahar was speaking to reporters following a meeting between Hamas leaders and a high-ranking Egyptian security delegation that arrived in Gaza early yesterday to mediate a Hudna, or truce, between Hamas and Israel. Israel has said that it will not allow leaders from Hamas and Islamic Jihad to attend the talks.

The Egyptian delegation yesterday held talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, chiefs of the different security apparatuses and representatives of different Palestinian Islamic and national factions. Bureau Report