Cairo peace talks expected to aim for long-term ceasefire

Proximity talks involving Israeli and Palestinian delegations, mediated by Egypt, are expected to get under way today or tomorrow in Cairo, aimed at reaching agreement on a long-term ceasefire for Gaza.

The two delegations left for the Egyptian capital yesterday after the implementation of a 72-hour truce and the withdrawal of the last Israeli troops from Gaza.

The Palestinian delegation is demanding widespread measures to end the economic siege on Gaza, including the opening of crossings to Israel and Egypt, the extension of the fishing zone off the Gaza coast and the eventual construction of air and sea ports.

Israel and Egypt have come out in favour of Palestinian Authority security forces assuming responsibility on the Palestinian side of border crossings.

Tunnels and bunkers

Israel is proposing a policy of “rehabilitation in return for demilitarisation”, and seeks guarantees that the militant groups will not be able to rearm. Israel also wants an international mechanism in place to ensure that cement and building materials brought into Gaza will not be used to build militant tunnels and bunkers.

More than 1,800 Gaza residents, most of them civilians, were killed in the four weeks of fighting, along with 64 Israeli soldiers and three civilians.

The military withdrawal in the morning followed the demolition of the 32nd, and final, Hamas cross-border tunnel discovered by the Israeli army.

Israeli forces have redeployed in large numbers along the border in defensive positions and are ready to re-enter Gaza if ordered to do so.

Just minutes before the truce, militants fired a barrage of rockets at central Israel, including towards Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.