An immediate ceasefire in Gaza is possible if arms supplies through tunnels used by Hamas militants are halted, Middle East envoy Tony Blair said yesterday.

An immediate ceasefire in Gaza is possible if arms supplies through tunnels used by Hamas militants are halted, Middle East envoy Tony Blair said yesterday.

"I think the position is there are circumstances in which we could get an immediate ceasefire and that's what people want to see," the former prime minister said.

"I think those circumstances focus very much around clear action to cut off the supply of arms and money through the tunnels that go from Egypt into Gaza."

Mr Blair, an envoy for the UN, EU, US and Russia in the Middle East, said that his discussions with Israel's prime minister and foreign and defence ministers suggested this was the "one basis" on which it would be possible to secure an immediate ceasefire.

Mr Blair said he believed discussions between Egypt and Hamas about halting the supply of arms and money to militants in Gaza were critical to securing a ceasefire.

He added: "I think the Egyptians in principle are prepared to do this, they want to do it, they recognise it's in their own interest as well."

Mr Blair, who has met Israeli leaders and senior Palestinian officials in recent days, called on Hamas to work towards a ceasefire to end the "appalling suffering" in Gaza. He said the people of Gaza were living through "hell" and warned of an even "more protracted campaign" if opportunities were not seized to end the violence.

There needed to be "clear, definitive" action to bring this about, Mr Blair said, adding that he thought all sides were willing to discuss an end to the violence. "If they (Hamas) truly do care about people in Gaza, there is a possible way that would have an immediate cessation of hostilities and that is obviously what any responsible person should try and achieve."

At the UN last night, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he supported a proposal by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for an immediate truce between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza. He expressed his "appreciation, indeed support" for the plan set out by Mubarak and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Mr Abbas's Fatah movement was ousted from power in Gaza in 2007 by Hamas.

A senior US official, who declined to be named, also said his country was backing the proposal.

Mr Blair maintained that a long-term solution to the conflict could be found through a "credible" political process. He stressed that discussions between the international community and Hamas were feasible if there were "some common principles of agreement", namely Hamas' willingness to give up violence.