Palestinians vow no truce until Israel meets demands

Palestinian negotiators holding indirect talks for a permanent ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip have hinted that no deal will be signed with Israel if Palestinians’ demands are not met.

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says the terms proposed in the Cairo talks are still not satisfactory. The Islamic Jihad Movement has also said no deal is better than a disgraceful agreement with Israel.

Speaking at a news conference in Gaza City, senior Hamas negotiator, Khalil al-Haya, has said the movement was “not interested in confrontation,” but was forced into entering a war with Israel due to Tel Aviv’s aggression.

On Wednesday, Egyptian mediators brokered a five-day ceasefire to allow for further negotiations on a long-term ceasefire to the fighting.

Diplomatic sources say there seems to be no tangible progress in the indirect negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis in Cairo.

The contentious subject at the talks is the issue of the Israeli blockade of the impoverished territory.

Palestinian officials have indicated that the ceasefire will not be extended if no progress is made. The Palestinian resistance group Hamas wants the seven-year siege to be removed, but Tel Aviv claims it will only take the measure if Hamas disarms.

Meanwhile, another Palestinian delegation, led by Hamas, is in Qatar to discuss a proposal for a long-term truce.

At least 1,980 Palestinians, including 470 children, have lost their lives and more than 10,200 have been wounded since the Israeli military unleashed fatal assaults on the Gaza Strip more than a month ago.

A panel appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council is expected to start investigating the crimes committed by Israel in its war on Gaza.