Islamic Hamas movement on Wednesday said it has presented a detailed version for ceasefire with Israel to Egypt which tries to broker the lull's deal.

"We handed out our version for a lull that meets the Palestinian people's ambitions of lifting the siege, stopping the aggression and opening the crossings," said Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas.

"Now, the ball is in Israel's court and it shoulders the responsibility of any obstruction of the Egyptian efforts," Barhoum added.

Israel is willing for a ceasefire in exchange for calmness. To lift Gaza blockade, Israel says Hamas must first release Gilad Shalit, a Israeli soldier that Hamas captured in 2006.

"The Israeli linkage between the issues of lull and Shalit is aimed at delaying the first one and gaining more time for putting pressure on Hamas and the Palestinian people and put them in the corner of Israeli choices," Barhoum said.

In December and January, Israel pounded the Gaza Strip from air and ground in the largest operation against the territory since Hamas took over control there in 2007. The Israeli offensive followed the expiration of a fragile ceasefire.

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2009)