Israel, Palestinians to resume indirect talks late October: Hamas

A senior official with the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, says Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will resume indirect talks on a long-term Gaza ceasefire next week in the Egyptian capital of Cairo.

Hamas and the Palestinian factions will take part in a session of “indirect negotiations” with Israel on October 27, at the invitation of Egypt, said Hamas deputy leader Mussa Abu Marzuq on Monday.

He said that the opening of a Gaza port and reopening of the Gaza Strip’s airport would be among the top priorities of the Palestinians in the talks.

Israel is yet to comment on the report of the resumption of talks.

Last month, the two sides held Egyptian-brokered talks after Israel’s devastating war on Gaza, during which over 2,130 Palestinians, including around 570 children, lost their lives and some 11,000 were injured. Tens of Israelis were also killed in the war.

Negotiators on both sides agreed to extend new talks in Cairo into the last week of October.

Palestinians have been demanding an end to Israel’s eight-year blockade of Gaza while Israelis are pushing for the disarmament of the Palestinian resistance groups, including Hamas. Hamas has repeatedly rejected this.