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Abbas to attend Cairo Gaza talks | Abbas to attend Cairo Gaza talks |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is due to meet Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, as part of efforts to bring about a long term ceasefire in Gaza. | Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is due to meet Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, as part of efforts to bring about a long term ceasefire in Gaza. |
Egypt has been mediating between Israel and Hamas, which controls Gaza, during the conflict in the coastal enclave. | Egypt has been mediating between Israel and Hamas, which controls Gaza, during the conflict in the coastal enclave. |
But Mr Abbas has accused Hamas of risking Palestinian lives and said its leaders must respect his authority. | But Mr Abbas has accused Hamas of risking Palestinian lives and said its leaders must respect his authority. |
The latest talks follow an upsurge in violence, with Israel carrying out air strikes in response to rocket attacks. | The latest talks follow an upsurge in violence, with Israel carrying out air strikes in response to rocket attacks. |
Cairo has been holding separate talks with Israeli officials and Palestinians from both Mr Abbas' Fatah party, which runs West Bank, and Hamas. | Cairo has been holding separate talks with Israeli officials and Palestinians from both Mr Abbas' Fatah party, which runs West Bank, and Hamas. |
Mr Mubarak wants to negotiate a permanent ceasefire which would bring an end to the smuggling of weapons under its borders into Gaza. | Mr Mubarak wants to negotiate a permanent ceasefire which would bring an end to the smuggling of weapons under its borders into Gaza. |
This could lead to Gaza's borders being reopened after an 18-month Israeli blockade which has prevented all but the most basic humanitarian supplies from entering. | This could lead to Gaza's borders being reopened after an 18-month Israeli blockade which has prevented all but the most basic humanitarian supplies from entering. |
Representatives from Hamas are also in Cairo, but Mr Abbas has said talks were impossible with anyone who rejected the supremacy of the Palestine Liberation Organisation - in an apparent reference to Hamas's leadership. | Representatives from Hamas are also in Cairo, but Mr Abbas has said talks were impossible with anyone who rejected the supremacy of the Palestine Liberation Organisation - in an apparent reference to Hamas's leadership. |
There has been a rift between Fatah and Hamas since Hamas took control of Gaza by force in mid-2007. | There has been a rift between Fatah and Hamas since Hamas took control of Gaza by force in mid-2007. |
Mr Abbas has accused Hamas of having "taken risks with the blood of Palestinians, with their fate, and dreams and aspirations for an independent Palestinian state". | Mr Abbas has accused Hamas of having "taken risks with the blood of Palestinians, with their fate, and dreams and aspirations for an independent Palestinian state". |
Fresh attacks | Fresh attacks |
GAZA CRISIS Gaza: Humanitarian situation Counting casualties of Gaza's warGaza slowly begins rebuilding The talks come after Israeli aircraft bombed a Hamas security target in Gaza City and tunnels used by the militant group along the border with Egypt. | |
There were no reports of casualties in Gaza following the attacks late on Sunday. | There were no reports of casualties in Gaza following the attacks late on Sunday. |
Israeli PM Ehud Olmert had earlier vowed a "disproportionate" response to rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza, after at least two rockets hit southern Israel, injuring two soldiers and a civilian. | Israeli PM Ehud Olmert had earlier vowed a "disproportionate" response to rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza, after at least two rockets hit southern Israel, injuring two soldiers and a civilian. |
The Israeli civilian casualty was the first since the 18 January ceasefires which ended Israel's three-week assault on Gaza, which it said was aimed at stopping rocket attacks. | |
Israel wants the rocket attacks to end and wants to prevent militants in Gaza from being able to rearm. | Israel wants the rocket attacks to end and wants to prevent militants in Gaza from being able to rearm. |
Hamas wants the border crossings into Gaza to be fully opened to end a 18-month blockade of Gaza. | Hamas wants the border crossings into Gaza to be fully opened to end a 18-month blockade of Gaza. |
Both Israel and Hamas have independently declared ceasefires, but these have been violated several times. | Both Israel and Hamas have independently declared ceasefires, but these have been violated several times. |
About 1,300 Palestinians and 10 Israeli soldiers were killed in Israel's devastating three-week assault on Gaza. Three Israeli citizens died in rocket attacks. | About 1,300 Palestinians and 10 Israeli soldiers were killed in Israel's devastating three-week assault on Gaza. Three Israeli citizens died in rocket attacks. |