Gaza, agreed at the end of a three-day truce.
As the ceasefire was announced, Israel launched air strikes in
response to alleged rocket fire from Gaza.
There were no more reports of violence overnight, and the two sides
were expected to continue indirect talks mediated by Egypt in Cairo.
The Israelis launched a military operation in Gaza on 8 July to stop
militant attacks from Gaza.
'Forbiddingly difficult'
Hamas, which controls Gaza and is involved in the Cairo talks, has
denied its members launched rockets at Israel on Wednesday night.
Israeli military spokesman Peter Lerner said on Twitter: "No need to
jump to conclusions. I don't know who launched 10pm (19:00GMT) rocket
at Israel."
There was no immediate report of casualties from either side.
The current ceasefire began on Monday, and has now been extended for five days
The brief truce has enabled Palestinian fishermen to go back out to sea
Palestinian sources say the truce extension will create a window for
further negotiations.
But the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Gaza says future talks are likely to
be forbiddingly difficult.
Officials from both sides have been communicating their demands
through Egyptian intermediaries in Cairo.
The talks are aimed at finding a more durable solution to the conflict in Gaza.
Demands postponed
The Palestinian side wants the blockade on Gaza to be lifted, while
Israel wants the territory to be fully disarmed.
Israel has indicated it may agree to relax parts of the blockade,
Egyptian and Palestinian sources said.
Other proposals under discussion include reducing the "no-go" zone in
Gaza, and increasing the offshore fishing zone for Gaza fishermen.
Egyptian mediators have proposed that discussion of other demands,
such as the opening of a seaport in Gaza and the return of the remains
of two dead Israeli soldiers, be postponed.
Israel's anti-missile system could be seen intercepting rockets fired
from Gaza on Wednesday
The two sides are engaged in indirect negotiations in Cairo
About 2,000 people have died since the fighting in Gaza began on 8 July.
Those killed include more than 1,900 Palestinians, mostly civilians,
according to the United Nations.
Sixty-four Israeli soldiers have been killed in the violence and three
civilians in Israel have also died.
Tension between Gaza and Israel rose after the abduction and killing
of three Israeli teenagers in June.
Israel blamed the killings on Hamas, though the group denied involvement.
Tension rose further after the suspected revenge killing of a
Palestinian teenager in Jerusalem on 2 July. Six Jewish suspects were
arrested over the youth's abduction and murder.
Israel occupied Gaza in 1967 and only pulled its troops and settlers
out in 2005.
However, it still exercises control over most of Gaza's borders, water
and air space.
Egypt controls Gaza's southern border.
BBC
No comments:
Post a Comment