RAMALLAH, West Bank, December 23, SPA -- A senior aide to the Hamas chief in the Gaza Strip said in an interview publishedSunday that the group was prepared to reach a trucewith Israel if it stops its military campaign against Gazamilitants and opens crossings into the impoverished,isolated territory. The comments by Ahmed Youssef, aide to Hamas' Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh, as reported by the Palestinian 'Maan' news agency, were the latest by Hamas officials in support of acease-fire. «We don't object to a truce that ends the siege, but itshould not be given gratis, and will not be open-ended,»Maan quoted Youssef as saying. Israel must stop itsmilitary strikes and ease the humanitarian situation inGaza by opening crossings, he said. Israeli defense officials, speaking on condition ofanonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, say thegovernment is examining the Hamas truce offer. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/511647