CAIRO
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday called for resuming indirect negotiations between Israel and Palestinian factions for reaching a durable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The call came following a meeting between Abbas and Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo.
"I agreed with President al-Sisi on the need to invite negotiators to resume the negotiations as soon as possible for reaching a truce in order to halt the Palestinian bloodshed, allow humanitarian aid and reconstruct Gaza," he told a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
Violence flared up again between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza on Tuesday following the collapse of Egypt-hosted indirect talks aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire deal, with Israel accusing Palestinian resistance factions of breaking a temporary truce with a rocket barrage.
The claim was denied by Hamas, however, which in turn accused Israel of attempting to derail the ceasefire talks in Cairo.
Since hostilities began on July 7, at least 2094 Palestinians have been killed – the vast majority of them civilians – and more than 10,503 injured by Israeli attacks across the beleaguered Gaza Strip.
Over the same period, at least 68 Israelis – 64 soldiers and four civilians – have been killed, according to Israeli figures.
Since 2007, the Gaza Strip has reeled under a crippling Israeli blockade that has taken an enormous toll on the coastal territory's economy and played havoc with residents' livelihoods.
By Hesham Mohamed
www.aa.com.tr/en
