CAIRO
Negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis on a durable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are now on hold in the Egyptian capital Cairo because of Jewish holidays, a member of the Palestinian delegation to the negotiations said early on Saturday. "The negotiations have been suspended since our last meeting with the chief of Egypt's intelligence agency Mohamed Farid al-Tohami before the end of the three-day ceasefire on Friday," Qais Abdel-Karim told Anadolu Agency.
He said the negotiations are expected to resume late on Saturday, noting that Saturday is usually a holiday in Israel.
Palestinian factions and Israel had held indirect talks in Cairo with the aim of striking a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The two sides have not, however, reached a deal, even as a three-day humanitarian ceasefire that started on Tuesday came to an end on Friday, opening the door for further animosities between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
Five Palestinians were killed by Israeli strikes on Friday, the first day since the end of the three-day humanitarian ceasefire.
The new fatalities brought Gaza's death toll to 1898 since the beginning of Israeli attacks on the Palestinian enclave on July 7.
More than 9800 other Palestinians were also injured by Israel's strikes, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Israel has also confirmed that 64 of its troops had been killed in battles with Palestinian fighters in the Gaza Strip and three civilians by rocket fire.
By Islam Mosaad
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en
