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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Gaza conflict: ceasefire 'extended by a day' | Gaza conflict: ceasefire 'extended by a day' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Gaza ceasefire has been extended for a further 24 hours after talks in Cairo, Palestinian and Israeli officials have told the BBC. | The Gaza ceasefire has been extended for a further 24 hours after talks in Cairo, Palestinian and Israeli officials have told the BBC. |
| The previous ceasefire came into effect last Wednesday, but was due to expire at midnight (21:00 GMT) on Monday. | |
| Officials say that 2,016 Palestinians and 66 Israelis have died since Israel began its offensive on Gaza on 8 July. | Officials say that 2,016 Palestinians and 66 Israelis have died since Israel began its offensive on Gaza on 8 July. |
| Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces would hit back hard if Hamas resumed rocket fire. | Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces would hit back hard if Hamas resumed rocket fire. |
| He said the military was "ready for all scenarios" and were prepared "for very resolute action if fire resumes". | He said the military was "ready for all scenarios" and were prepared "for very resolute action if fire resumes". |
| The 24-hour extension was confirmed by the Egyptian government, which said Palestinian and Israeli delegations had agreed to continue negotiations for a permanent deal. | |
| Negotiating teams returned to Egypt's capital Cairo for indirect talks on Sunday following consultations. | Negotiating teams returned to Egypt's capital Cairo for indirect talks on Sunday following consultations. |
| Palestinian negotiator Qais Abdul Karim said on Sunday that Israel was seeking guarantees that Hamas and other factions in Gaza would be disarmed. | |
| Palestinians are calling for an end to the Israeli and Egyptian blockades of Gaza without preconditions, he added. | |
| Hamas says it will not give up its weapons, while Israel insists it must maintain some control over Gaza's crossings to prevent the smuggling of weapons. | |
| Israel is also concerned by the import of building materials into Gaza, saying they could be used by Hamas to rebuild its tunnel network. | |
| 'Unprecedented destruction' | |
| But Middle East envoy Robert Serry said on Monday that the UN was ready to oversee imports of construction material sent to Gaza. | |
| Mr Serry said the imports were crucial after "the unprecedented amount of destruction" had caused an "unprecedented level of humanitarian needs". | |
| Approximately 16,800 housing units in Gaza had been destroyed, Mr Serry added, affecting some 100,000 Palestinians. | |
| In addition, he said more than 100 installations belonging to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees had been damaged. |