Hamas talks of 'real chance' for Gaza agreement with Israel

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/14/hamas-real-chance-gaza-agreement-israel-truce

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Hamas believes there is a "real opportunity" to reach an agreement with Israel in Cairo negotiations to end the conflict in Gaza, saying it is "not interested in more bloodshed".

The positive signals from the Islamist organisation, which has fought a 30-day war with Israel, came after mediators brokered a five-day extension to the current ceasefire shortly before a midnight deadline on Wednesday.

Despite there being some rocket fire from Gaza and air strikes by Israel as efforts to extend the truce went to the wire, the ceasefire held throughout Thursday. It expires at midnight on Monday.

Both the Palestinian and Israeli delegations left Cairo for a break in the talks, which are expected to resume on Sunday.

The Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, who returned to Gaza to brief the local leadership, told reporters: "There is still a real chance to clinch an agreement, but Israel must stop playing with words."

He added: "We are not interested in more destruction for our people. We are not interested in more bloodshed."

But, he said, Hamas would not sign an agreement that did not "meet our people's demands", and he warned that the organisation could "renew the battle" with greater strength.

The Israeli cabinet was due to meet on Thursday evening to discuss the progress of the Cairo talks. Continuing tensions between the US and Israeli governments were also expected to be on the agenda, after reports that Israel had secured military supplies from the Pentagon without White House approval.

Egyptian mediators appeared to be striving for a two-part agreement. The initial deal would focus on easing Israeli restrictions on imports and exports, increasing the number of permits issued to Gazans to enter or travel through Israel, reducing the size of the no-go "buffer zone" inside Gaza's perimeter, and expanding the permitted fishing zone.

The second part, to follow some weeks later, would focus on Hamas's demands for a sea and airport, and the possible release of some Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the remains of two Israeli soldiers killed in the conflict which Hamas is believed to be holding as a bargaining tool.

Hamas also wants the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt to be opened, possibly policed by Palestinian Authority security forces. Hayya said the Palestinian delegation expected Egypt to agree to easing the current restrictions.

The Israeli military said eight rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel at around midnight, and authorities in Gaza reported a number of air strikes. There were no casualties on either side.

According to the World Health Organisation, 1,951 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, including 469 children. The number of injured is 10,193, it said. Sixty-four Israeli soldiers and three civilians in Israel have died.