Israelis, Palestinians resume talks on Gaza deal

TEHRAN, Aug. 20 (MNA) – Indirect talks between Palestinian and Israeli negotiators in Cairo resumed on Tuesday. Negotiations resumed after Cairo extended five days of ceasefire for another 24 hours to allow more time for clinching an agreement. Egypt-brokered talks continue amid wide gaps on main issues including Palestinian demands for a Gaza seaport and an airport, and Israel’s demands for disarmament of Hamas. A member of the Palestinian delegation told media that Israel was offering to ease the Gaza blockade by opening border crossings to some goods and people, but was insisting that it retain the right to limit the imports of material like cement, and chemical and metal products, which Israel says can be used for weapons manufacturing. Hamas says it would not accept any arrangement which might allow Israel to retain the right to blockade Gaza at its will. Hamas officials say any deal must completely remove siege on Gaza and allow opening of ports and crossings. The conflict between the two sides intensified as Israel launched a military campaign against Gaza on July 8 and more than a month of fights left more than 2,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians including many women and children, dead and more than 10 thousands injured.