A Gazan man inspects the rubble of a workshop destroyed in an Israeli raid. (Hatem Omar, Maan Images)

The former US president Jimmy Carter is to give a full report to Barack Obama after becoming easily the highest-profile Western figure to meet Hamas leaders in Gaza since the international boycott imposed after the party's election victory in 2006.

Mr Carter held three hours of talks with Ismail Haniyeh, the de facto Prime Minister of Hamas-controlled Gaza, and other senior figures in the Palestinian movement yesterday after issuing a ringing appeal for an end to the two-year blockade which, he said, had treated Gaza's 1.5 million people "more like animals than human beings".

Mr Carter, who handed over a letter from the parents of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli army corporal seized by Gaza militants three years ago, is believed to have discussed with Mr Haniyeh both the prospects of a prisoner release for Cpl Shalit, and whether Hamas will move towards the three preconditions imposed by the international community for opening contacts with the Islamic faction.

Earlier, at a UN Relief and Works Agency event north of Gaza City, Mr Carter - who has campaigned for peace in the Middle East since he brokered the talks which led to the 1978 treaty between Egypt and Israel - said he had urged Hamas to accept the three conditions, reiterated by Mr Obama in Cairo a fortnight ago, of recognising Israel, renouncing violence and abiding by previous agreements.

Mr Carter said the Damascus-based Hamas leader, Khaled Meshal, had told him he would accept an agreement with Israel for a Palestinian state, negotiated by the moderate Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, if it was approved in a referendum. Mr Carter insisted that the Arab Peace Initiative - which offers pan-Arab recognition in return for a Palestinian state on 1967 borders - was now being "considered on all sides".

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