Gaza, May 24, SPA -- Egyptian efforts to promote a ceasefire in the GazaStrip are still going on and have not failed, a Hamas official saidSaturday. Hamas has "received Israel's response to the Egyptian initiativeand handed out the Egyptians some more questions and now waitIsrael's clarifications," said Ahmed Yousef, an aide to Hamas'deposed premier Ismail Haniya. The Islamic movement "will make its decision after it gets theIsraeli response on the questions it raised," Yousef was quoted as saying by DPA. Egypt proposed a six-month ceasefire starting in the Gaza Strip. Hamas and the Palestinian factions accepted the offer but Israelinsisted on the release of an Israeli soldier held hostage by Hamassince June 2006.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/558683