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Gaza and Israel locked in talks as end of ceasefire approaches Gaza and Israel locked in talks as end of ceasefire approaches
(about 2 hours later)
Palestinian and Israeli delegations were locked in tense talks on Wednesday night as the end of a 72-hour ceasefire approached.Palestinian and Israeli delegations were locked in tense talks on Wednesday night as the end of a 72-hour ceasefire approached.
Though the truce – the eighth bid to stop the month-long war – was due to expire at midnight on Wednesday, there was still some hope that a deal might be achieved before the deadline. Though the truce – the eighth bid to stop the month-long war – was due to expire at midnight on Wednesday, there was still hope that a deal might be achieved before the deadline.
The two sides, talking through Egyptian mediators in Cairo, appear to have made progress in the last 48 hours, though significant gaps between their positions remain, Palestinian officials in Gaza and Cairo said. The two sides, talking through Egyptian mediators in Cairo, appear to have made progress in 48 hours though significant gaps remain between their positions, Palestinian officials in Gaza and Cairo said.
Since the truce went into effect on Sunday, Israel has halted military operations in the coastal enclave, and groups based there including Hamas and several smaller Islamist organisations have stopped firing rockets. Since the truce went into effect on Sunday, Israel has halted military operations in Gaza and groups based there including Hamas and several smaller Islamist organisations have stopped firing rockets.
The most recent ceasefire was meant to give the two sides time to negotiate a more sustainable truce with talks over a possible longer term peace plan for the territory being postponed for later discussions. The most recent ceasefire was meant to give the two sides time to negotiate a more sustainable truce with talks over a possible longer-term peace plan for the territory being postponed for later discussions.
A member of the Palestinian delegation in Cairo said his team was still considering an Egyptian proposal tabled earlier in the week which calls for easing parts of the Israeli blockade of Gaza, bringing some relief to the territory.A member of the Palestinian delegation in Cairo said his team was still considering an Egyptian proposal tabled earlier in the week which calls for easing parts of the Israeli blockade of Gaza, bringing some relief to the territory.
However the plan leaves the key areas of disagreement, including Hamas' demand for a full lifting of the blockade and Israeli calls for the group to disarm, to later negotiations. Hamas officials have repeatedly said that disarmament was inconceivable. However the plan leaves the main areas of disagreement, including Hamas's demand for a full lifting of the blockade and Israeli calls for the group to disarm, to later negotiations. Hamas officials have repeatedly said that disarmament was inconceivable.
A swap of Palestinian prisoners for the remains of Israeli soldiers has also been postponed, officials said.A swap of Palestinian prisoners for the remains of Israeli soldiers has also been postponed, officials said.
A Hamas-run television channel in Gaza quoted Ismail Haniyeh, a senior political official in Hamas, pledging support for the delegation in Cairo.A Hamas-run television channel in Gaza quoted Ismail Haniyeh, a senior political official in Hamas, pledging support for the delegation in Cairo.
"The threats of the enemy leaders only increase with our people's demands and the principal demand is the lifting of the blockade," Haniyeh said."The threats of the enemy leaders only increase with our people's demands and the principal demand is the lifting of the blockade," Haniyeh said.
On Tuesday, officials from Hamas and other factions in Gaza expressed cautious optimism that a deal would be signed before the end of the ceasefire.On Tuesday, officials from Hamas and other factions in Gaza expressed cautious optimism that a deal would be signed before the end of the ceasefire.
One sticking point has been the question of a seaport for Gaza, agreed in principle more than 20 years ago.One sticking point has been the question of a seaport for Gaza, agreed in principle more than 20 years ago.
A seaport controlled by the Palestinians could transform the lives of Gaza's 1.8 million people who have been unable to freely trade and travel since Israel and Egypt imposed tight border restrictions in response to a Hamas takeover of the territory in 2007. But Israel is concerned a port would allow militant groups in Gaza to rearm. A seaport controlled by the Palestinians could transform the lives of Gaza's 1.8 million people who have been unable to trade and travel freely since Israel and Egypt imposed tight border restrictions in response to a Hamas takeover of the territory in 2007.
Only about 13,000 Gaza residents with special clearance, such as medical patients and traders, are able to leave the territory each month through land crossings into Israel and Egypt. Virtually all exports from Gaza are banned. But Israel is concerned a port would allow militant groups in Gaza to rearm.
Only about 13,000 Gaza residents with special clearance, such as patients and traders, can leave the territory each month through land crossings into Israel and Egypt. Virtually all exports from Gaza are banned.
It appears likely that Egypt will agree to ease restrictions on its border with Gaza if security forces from the Palestinian Authority take control of crossings.It appears likely that Egypt will agree to ease restrictions on its border with Gaza if security forces from the Palestinian Authority take control of crossings.
Both sides in the talks are under pressure to conclude a deal. Despite rhetoric threatening renewed conflict, options for both Israel and Hamas are in fact limited. Hamas is isolated diplomatically and weakened financially. Israel's anti-missile defence systems have proved effective and the wave of popularity for the organisation that the war has prompted in Gaza may ebb fast. Both sides in the talks are under pressure to conclude a deal. Despite the rhetoric threatening renewed conflict, options for both Israel and Hamas are limited. Hamas is isolated diplomatically and weakened financially. Israel's anti-missile defence systems have proved effective and Hamas's popularity in Gaza prompted by the war could ebb quickly.
In Israel, many were surprised by the casualties sustained by troops who entered Gaza to seek and destroy cross-border tunnels. A new military operation involving a more ambitious deployment of ground forces into densely populated urban areas would be extremely costly for troops and civilians and would be likely to provoke global outrage.In Israel, many were surprised by the casualties sustained by troops who entered Gaza to seek and destroy cross-border tunnels. A new military operation involving a more ambitious deployment of ground forces into densely populated urban areas would be extremely costly for troops and civilians and would be likely to provoke global outrage.
Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, spoke with the US president, Barack Obama, during the afternoon, Israeli media reported.Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, spoke with the US president, Barack Obama, during the afternoon, Israeli media reported.
In Cairo, the Palestinian Authority's ambassador to Egypt, said he thought a deal was possible. In Cairo, the Palestinian Authority's ambassador to Egypt said he thought a deal was possible. Gamal Shobky said: "I think there is some progress – but it's not enough to sign an understanding. But the Egyptian [mediators] are working strongly and I think the Israeli and Palestinian sides have come for real negotiations, they're ready for marathon negotiations today, and I think [the result] will be clear tonight."
"I think there is some progress – but it's not enough to sign an understanding. But the Egyptian [mediators] are working strongly and I think the Israeli and Palestinian sides have come for real negotiations, they're ready for marathon negotiations today, and I think [the result] will be clear tonight," Gamal Shobky said. Earlier on Wednesday, four police bomb disposal experts, an Italian reporter and a freelance Palestinian translator were killed when ordnance exploded in the northern town of Beit Lahiya.
Earlier on Wednesday, four police bomb disposal experts, an Italian reporter and a freelance Palestinian translator were killed when ordnance left over from the war exploded in the northern town of Beit Lahia. Simone Camilli, a 35-year-old video journalist working for the Associated Press news agency and Ali Shehda Abu Afash, 36, died when an unexploded 500kg bomb believed to have been dropped in an Israeli air strike exploded at a collection dump for munitions.
Simone Camilli, a 35-year-old video journalist working for the Associated Press news agency and Ali Shehda Abu Afash, 36, died when an unexploded 500kg bomb believed to have been dropped in an Israeli airstrike exploded at a collection dump for munitions. "You could hear the explosion five miles away," said Maher Halevi, chief of police at the Beit Lahiya station where the team were based.
"You could hear the explosion five miles away," said Maher Halevi, chief of police at the Beit Lahia station where the team were based.
More than 1,900 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed so far in the war which began on 8 July after a surge of rockets launched by Hamas on Israel. Israel blamed Hamas for the kidnapping and murder in June of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank. Israel later sent in ground troops to destroy Hamas' underground cross-border tunnels.More than 1,900 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed so far in the war which began on 8 July after a surge of rockets launched by Hamas on Israel. Israel blamed Hamas for the kidnapping and murder in June of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank. Israel later sent in ground troops to destroy Hamas' underground cross-border tunnels.
Sixty-four Israeli soldiers were killed in the fighting and three Israeli civilians. Sixty-four Israeli soldiers were killed in the fighting and three civilians were killed in Israel.
The latest conflict is the third between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since Hamas took control of the densely-populated territory in 2007.The latest conflict is the third between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since Hamas took control of the densely-populated territory in 2007.
The Israeli military was reported to have called up additional reserve soldiers and reinforced troops along the border with Gaza on Wednesday afternoon.The Israeli military was reported to have called up additional reserve soldiers and reinforced troops along the border with Gaza on Wednesday afternoon.
A spokesman told the Guardian that a number of reserves that had been on "rest and recuperation" had been called back up for active duty, but he would not reveal their numbers.A spokesman told the Guardian that a number of reserves that had been on "rest and recuperation" had been called back up for active duty, but he would not reveal their numbers.
A Palestinian Authority official speaking to mourners gathered at a funeral tent of a man killed by Israeli troops near Nablus in the occupied West Bank earlier this week said that the Palestinian delegation had been surprised by Egypt's hard line.A Palestinian Authority official speaking to mourners gathered at a funeral tent of a man killed by Israeli troops near Nablus in the occupied West Bank earlier this week said that the Palestinian delegation had been surprised by Egypt's hard line.
Hamas officials in Gaza were also critical of the Egyptians. The organisation, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, is seen by Cairo as a security threat.Hamas officials in Gaza were also critical of the Egyptians. The organisation, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, is seen by Cairo as a security threat.
Jonathan Spyer, senior research fellow at the Global Research in International Affairs centre in Herzliya, said that, for Israel, a deal which mirrors the Egypt ceasefire agreement tabled early in the conflict would be acceptable to the Israeli public. That deal was rejected by Hamas, which claimed it had never been shown it. Jonathan Spyer, senior research fellow at the Global Research in International Affairs Centre in Herzliya, said that, for Israel, a deal which mirrors the Egypt ceasefire agreement tabled early in the conflict would be acceptable to the Israeli public. That deal was rejected by Hamas, which claimed it had never been shown it.
"Unless there were any major concessions to Hamas, the Israeli public will be happy to return to the stated goal of this operation – a return to peace and quiet," he said, adding that any deal that mirrored the 2012 ceasefire agreement would also likely play well in Israel. "Unless there were any major concessions to Hamas, the Israeli public will be happy to return to the stated goal of this operation – a return to peace and quiet," he said, adding that any deal that mirrored the 2012 ceasefire agreement would also be likely to play well in Israel.
The public, he added, would even likely tolerate minor concessions in Gaza, such as an extension of its currently heavily restricted fishing zone or an opening of the border in Rafah with a checkpoint controlled by the Palestinian Authority, as was the case at Israel's Erez crossing with Gaza until the outbreak of the latest conflict. The public, he added, would even be likely to tolerate minor concessions in Gaza, such as an extension of its currently heavily restricted fishing zone or an opening of the border in Rafah with a checkpoint controlled by the Palestinian Authority, as was the case at Israel's Erez crossing with Gaza until the outbreak of the latest conflict.
At the same time, Spyer said that it was likely that Israel would be in the same situation six months to two years from now, given that their goal of a demilitarisation in Gaza – or of the Palestinian Authority taking control of the strip – was unlikely to be achieved. At the same time, Spyer said it was likely that Israel would be in the same situation six months to two years from now, given that its goal of demilitarisation in Gaza – or of the Palestinian Authority taking control of the strip – was unlikely to be achieved.
"I think Hamas will remain in power in Gaza. I can't see that changing," he said."I think Hamas will remain in power in Gaza. I can't see that changing," he said.
Israel's hardline foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said that Israel must defeat Hamas even at the cost of another conflagration.Israel's hardline foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said that Israel must defeat Hamas even at the cost of another conflagration.
"Israel cannot afford a war of attrition," Lieberman said in a meeting with district heads in Bat Hadar. "If the current ceasefire is heading towards collapse," Israel must "take the initiative, even if it means a significant escalation.""Israel cannot afford a war of attrition," Lieberman said in a meeting with district heads in Bat Hadar. "If the current ceasefire is heading towards collapse," Israel must "take the initiative, even if it means a significant escalation."
Netanyahu, the prime minister, criticised the United Nations Human Rights Council, accusing it of granting "legitimacy to terror organisations" by investigating Israel for alleged war crimes in Gaza.Netanyahu, the prime minister, criticised the United Nations Human Rights Council, accusing it of granting "legitimacy to terror organisations" by investigating Israel for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
"[The] UNHRC gives legitimacy to murderous terror organisations like Hamas and Daash (Islamic State)," he said, accusing the rights body of overlooking "massacres" committed elsewhere in the Middle East in favour of investigating Israel for defending itself against rocket attacks from Gaza."[The] UNHRC gives legitimacy to murderous terror organisations like Hamas and Daash (Islamic State)," he said, accusing the rights body of overlooking "massacres" committed elsewhere in the Middle East in favour of investigating Israel for defending itself against rocket attacks from Gaza.