Three Palestinian factions, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, announced today, Saturday, the day after a meeting in Cairo, that reaching an agreement with Israel on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is "closer than ever" if the Hebrew state does not set "new conditions."

Hamas said in a statement that delegations representing the three Palestinian factions met in Cairo on Friday evening and agreed that "the possibility of reaching an agreement is closer than ever if the enemy stops setting new conditions."

The statement stressed, according to Agence France-Presse, "everyone's keenness to stop the war on our people."

Last week, indirect negotiations took place in the Qatari capital, Doha, between Hamas and Israel, with Egyptian and Qatari mediation.

Hamas announced, in a brief statement a few days ago, that reaching an agreement was imminent if Israel did not set new conditions.

A Hamas leader told Agence France-Presse, "The negotiations have made great and important progress, and agreement has been reached on most of the points related to the ceasefire and prisoner exchange issues. Some outstanding points remain, but they are not disruptive."

He added, on condition of anonymity: "The agreement could see the light before the end of this year if (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) does not obstruct it with new conditions."

He explained that "if the agreement is announced and implemented, it will stipulate a gradual cessation of the war and a gradual military withdrawal from the Strip, but the agreement ends with a serious deal to exchange prisoners, a permanent cessation of the war, a complete withdrawal from the Strip, the return of the displaced, and a non-return to combat operations with guarantees from international mediators, and reconstruction."

In its statement, Hamas said that the factions also discussed in Cairo “the latest developments related to the Community Support Committee for the Administration of the Gaza Strip” the day after the war.

According to the statement, the three factions appreciated the Egyptian efforts to "form the committee and announce it as soon as possible."

The factions also agreed to meet again soon "to complete the final touches to form the community support committee to manage the Gaza Strip after the war."

Hamas and Fatah agreed in Cairo a few weeks ago to form a community support committee consisting of ten to fifteen members of specialized figures and independent competencies, but a number of Fatah leaders, including the movement’s Central Committee member Jibril Rajoub, expressed their rejection of this committee.