Palestinians hold Gaza truce talks in Cairo

[Mrs. Sharon B. Hodge]

Palestinians hold Gaza truce talks in Cairo



CAIRO (AFP) – Palestinian officials are gathering in Cairo on Sunday for talks aimed at bolstering a ceasefire in Gaza, as Israel threatened to strike at Hamas after Gaza militants fired rockets into Israel.

Egypt has been mediating a truce after Hamas and Israel announced ceasefires on January 18, ending a devastating 22-day war that killed more than 1,330 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.

An advisor to Ismail Haniya, who heads the Hamas government in Gaza, told AFP that the group was awaiting Israel's response to an Egyptian truce proposal.

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Hamas supporters demonstrate in Gaza City. Palestinian officials are gathering in Cairo for talks aimed … (photo)

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Peace talks? Anything but..... (video)

"We can speak with details about the truce after our delegation examines the Israeli response," said Ahmed Yusef, adding that Hamas expected the response by Monday.

"But for now, things are moving in a positive direction."
A Hamas team from Gaza is already in Cairo, as is Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, while representatives of Hamas's Syria-based leadership are due on Monday, a Hamas official said.

In Jerusalem, a senior defence official told AFP that Israel was demanding an end
to fire from Gaza and arms smuggling.

"Israel does not negotiate with Hamas. Israel demands two conditions -- the total cessation of fire and an end to arms smuggling. Israel is only holding talks with Egypt on this issue," he said.

The fragile ceasefire has been tested by tit-for-tat attacks which flared up after Palestinian militants detonated a roadside bomb at the Gaza border with Israel, killing a soldier.

Palestinian militants have also fired at least seven rockets at Israel.

"We've said that if there is rocket fire against the south of the country, there will be a severe and disproportionate Israeli response," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at the weekly cabinet meeting.

Hamas has said it rejects any ceasefire that did not end Israel's blockade of Gaza, which was enforced after the Islamist movement violently seized the enclave in a week of fighting with its Fatah rivals in mid-2007.