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Ceasefire talks underway in Cairo but no truce expected soon


BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Negotiations in Cairo for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have made progress, but a truce is unlikely in the coming days, PLO official Nabil Shaath said Sunday.

Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal and his deputy Mousa Abu Marzouq updated Shaath on talks in Cairo between Palestinian factions and an Israeli delegate.

Fatah leader and President Mahmoud Abbas is also in direct contact with Mashaal, Shaath said.

Shaath told Ma'an that a ceasefire "is not likely to take effect in the coming days because Israel is trying to impose its own stipulations ignoring the demands of Hamas and other Palestinian factions."

Palestinian factions are demanding an end to Israel's siege on Gaza and that Israel stops all incursions into Gaza, stops assassinating leaders and stops firing at fishermen off the coast.

Shaath said Israel initially requested that Hamas hand over all its weapons. Hamas refused, and said it would agree to stop targeting civilians in a ceasefire. more

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