CAIRO – Israel and the Hamas accepted an Egyptian cease-fire proposal Sunday, clearing the way for the resumption of talks on a long-term truce to end a month of heavy fighting in the Gaza Strip that has taken nearly 2,000 lives.
The announcement marked the second time in less than a week the bitter enemies had agreed to Egyptian mediation. A similar three-day truce last week collapsed in renewed violence over the weekend.
The truce took effect at midnight local time. In Cairo, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the cease-fire would allow humanitarian aid into battered Gaza neighborhoods and the reopening of indirect talks on a more lasting and comprehensive deal.
Hamas is seeking an end to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade against Gaza, while Israel wants Hamas to dismantle its arsenal of rockets and other weapons.
Palestinian negotiators accepted the proposal early Sunday after meeting with Egyptian officials throughout the weekend. Israeli officials concurred later. Both delegations are back in Cairo.
Qais Abdelkarim, a member of the Palestinian delegation, said indirect talks with the Israelis would begin Monday “with the hope of reaching a lasting cease-fire.” The goal, he added, was to end the blockade, which he called “the reason for the war.”
The recent fighting has been the heaviest between Israel and Hamas since Hamas was democratically elected into power in Gaza in 2007. More than 1,900 Palestinians have been killed, the vast majority of them civilians. On the Israeli side, 67 people have been killed – almost all soldiers – including three civilians. In Gaza, nearly 10,000 people have been wounded and thousands of homes destroyed.
The nearly monthlong fighting ended in a three-day cease-fire last Tuesday. Egypt had hoped to use that truce to mediate a long-term deal. But when it expired, militants not affiliated with Hamas launched rocket fire, sparking Israeli reprisals. The violence continued throughout the weekend, including a burst of fighting late Sunday ahead of the expected cease-fire.
Israel had walked away from cease-fire talks over the weekend.
Last week’s talks failed in part because Israel rejected Hamas’ demand for a complete end to the blockade.
A senior Palestinian negotiator acknowledged the Palestinians would make more modest demands this time around. He said they will seek an end to the bloodshed in Gaza and an easing – but not an end – to the blockade.
