Indirect negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis for a truce in Gaza resumed yesterday, a Palestinian official said, as the clock ticked toward the midnight expiry of a three-day halt to hostilities.
The talks, held at Egypt’s General Intelligence headquarters in Cairo, were expected to last all day as Egyptian mediators race to bridge the gaps between the two sides.
The negotiations “are in a very sensitive stage and we hope to reach an agreement” before midnight (9pm GMT), Palestinian delegation head Azzam al-Ahmed said.
Nearly 2,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its offensive on July 8 to halt cross-border rocket fire. On the Israeli side, 67 people have been killed.
Egypt brokered the 72-hour truce that took effect at 00:01 on Monday and has urged the warring sides to reach “a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire.”
The Palestinians, included representatives of Gaza’s de facto rulers Hamas, are demanding an end to the eight-year blockade of the enclave.
Palestinian officials said Israel had so far proposed easing restrictions at two of the six border crossings it shares with the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians have rejected an Israeli demand for Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza to disarm.
Hamas’ negotiating position has been strengthened by support from moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The group signed a unity deal with Abbas’ Palestinian Authority in April, ending a seven-year rift.
A member of the Palestinian delegation said yesterday that his team was considering an Egyptian proposal tabled on Tuesday calling for easing parts of the Israeli blockade.
However, it leaves the key areas of disagreement, including Hamas’ demand for a full lifting of the blockade and Israeli calls for Hamas to disarm, to later negotiations.
The Palestinian negotiator said he had some reservations about the plan and would try to improve it.
“We would like to see more cross-border freedom, and also to have the question of a Gaza seaport and airport discussed,” he said on condition of anonymity.
On the ground in Gaza, a foreign journalist was among at least five people killed in Beit Lahiya yesterday as Palestinian experts were dismantling an Israeli missile, medics and officials said.
Muayin al-Masri, spokesperson for Kamal Adwan hospital, said another five people were wounded, with three in critical condition.
The journalist was at the scene to cover the dismantling unexploded missile, although there was no official word on the victim’s identity.
Another local journalist working with the male victim was badly wounded, a foreign reporter said.
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