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Truce extended for 24 hours as Cairo talks continue

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Israeli and Palestinian delegations agreed to extend the current Gaza truce by 24 hours to midnight tonight as talks continue over brokering a longer-term ceasefire agreement.

The Egyptian MENA news agency quoted a Palestinian official who said, “Both sides have agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire.” An Israeli diplomatic source also confirmed the extension “at Egypt’s request.” Talks will continue today in Cairo, but there is little indication that progress has been made in working towards a more substantive ceasefire. Azzam al-Ahmad, a senior leader from Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction said in Cairo that there had been “no progress on any point.” He added, “We hope that every minute of the coming 24 hours will be used to reach an agreement.”

The precarious status of the talks was also reflected in comments made yesterday by Israeli leaders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a visit to Ashdod Naval Base, “We are prepared for any scenario.” He later added during a visit to Sderot, “We are in the midst of a diplomatic campaign, and … we need the same things [as in a military campaign]: a lot of strength, patience, persistence, and wisdom.” Meanwhile, Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon commented yesterday, “We are prepared for the results of the discussions in Cairo whether they bring quiet or if someone tries to challenge us with escalation.”

Ynet news this morning reports that Israel and the United States have agreed the details of a long-term truce with Hamas, which would include the gradual lifting of restrictions on movement in and out of Gaza. The United States would apparently give support in the international arena to Israel’s demand to disarm Gaza. However, Channel Two subsequently reported that unnamed Israeli diplomatic officials denied that Israel had agreed to lift such restrictions. The sources added that the two sides are considering a “narrow” agreement, rather than a wide-ranging ceasefire, whereby Israel would attempt to ease conditions in Gaza in return for quiet.