GAZA CITY
Palestinian resistance faction Hamas made it clear on Sunday that a cease-fire agreement between Gaza-based groups and Israel signed last week in Cairo is "open-ended."
The assertion came to address fears that violence might re-erupt after the expiry of the one-month deadline set in the agreement for another round of indirect talks to begin on a long-term cease-fire deal.
"What was mentioned in the agreement that the talks should be resumed within one month. The calm, meanwhile, is open-ended, and we wanted to clarify this to prevent any confusion among the Palestinians," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in statement.
The Egyptian-brokered cease-fire deal, signed on Tuesday, put an end to Israel's 51-day offensive on the Gaza Strip, which left some 2,147 Gazans dead and 11,000 others injured – mostly civilians. The crippling onslaught had also partially or completely destroyed thousands of buildings across the coastal enclave.
The cease-fire deal calls for opening all border crossings between the Gaza Strip and Israel – effectively ending the latter's seven-year blockade of the coastal territory.
According to the agreement's terms, Palestinian and Israeli negotiators will hold indirect negotiations on other core Palestinian demands – including the release of prisoners and the establishment of a Gaza seaport – in one month.
Over the course of Israel's offensive, at least 70 Israelis – 65 soldiers and five civilians – were killed, according to Israeli figures. This is the highest military death toll for Israel since the 2006 war in Lebanon, in which 119 Israeli soldiers were killed.
By Ola Attalah
www.aa.com.tr/en
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