Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    GAZA, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Deposed Hamas Premier Ismail Haneya on Monday hoped Egypt would succeed in convincing Israel to accept a ceasefire deal designated to take place in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

    In a statement sent to the press, Haneya called on the Israeli leaders to cope with Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman who is on a visit to Israel to present the ceasefire initiative.

    Haneya also urged Israel to "end the aggression and lift the siege on the Palestinian people."

    Israel closed crossing points into Gaza Strip last June when Hamas took over the territory by force.

    The Palestinian factions, led by Hamas, accepted the Egyptian initiative after talks in Cairo last month to overcome the economic sanctions and the military attacks on Gaza.

    On Monday, Suleiman held talks with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Jerusalem and is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert later.

    Following the talks, Suleiman said he had "high expectations" that the lull will prevail if Israel accepted the offer.

    Despite the efforts, Palestinian armed groups fired several rockets into Israel from Gaza.

    The Islamic Jihad movement, which said it will not block the ceasefire efforts, claimed responsibility for launching two rockets into southern Israel port city of Ashkelon, causing damage to some houses.