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Milshtein says Israel should adopt Hamas’ concept of a “hudna” — a prolonged period of strategic calm.

“Hudna doesn’t mean a peace agreement,” he said.

A longer Hamas statement gave more details of what Israeli military action was expected to cease for the duration of what it called a "hudna", or temporary truce.

Its 1988 founding charter called for the destruction of Israel, although Hamas leaders have at times offered a long-term truce, or Hudna in Arabic, with Israel in return for a viable Palestinian state on all Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 war.

His view is not shared by the government, which has rejected overtures from Hamas to offer a ten-year hudna, or ceasefire, in return for being allowed to build a seaport.