Talking toward a longer truce

Egyptian mediators have launched fresh talks in Cairo aimed at reaching a permanent truce in Gaza. So far, Israel and Hamas have stuck to the latest 72-hour ceasefire bid.

Hamas is demanding the opening of a seaport and an end to land blockades on Gaza imposed by Egypt and Israel, which, in turn, has called for the disarmament of militants before it agrees to a longer truce.

Late Sunday, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri described the fresh negotiations as "the last chance" for an agreement.

High toll

Israel's monthlong assault has claimed the lives of more than 1,900 people, about 75 percent of them civilians, according to the United Nations, including nearly 500 children, with close to 10,000 Palestinians wounded. Ground combat within Gaza left 64 Israeli soldiers dead. Three civilians within Israel died as a result of rockets fired from Gaza by Palestinian militants.

Israel first launched its offensive on July 8, purportedly to stop rockets from being fired from Gaza and to destroy a network of tunnels used by militants for cross-border attacks.

According to the United Nations, at least 425,000 of the Gaza Strip's 1.8 million people have sought refuge in emergency shelters or been taken in by host families. Israel's attacks have destroyed or severely damaged 12,000 homes.

Shaky truce sticks

On Monday, Israeli officials said no rockets had been fired since the latest truce started and that the Israeli military had not targeted any locations in Gaza either. However, violence between the two sides continued right up to the start of the new truce, with the Qassam Brigades - the armed wing of the Islamist Hamas movement - claiming it had launched a missile toward Tel Aviv shortly before midnight.

The rocket launch was confirmed by Israel, but the military reported that "no fall was identified." For its part, Israel announced that it had targeted 11 groups of militants late on Sunday.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry has urged both sides to work towards "a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire agreement." However, Israeli representatives will not meet face-to-face with the Palestinian delegation, which includes members of Hamas, regarded by Israel and some of its allies as a terrorist organization.

Should Israel and Egypt agree to partially lift the land blockade on Gaza, German and EU forces could have a role in enforcing the border.

A previous ceasefire had fallen apart on Friday morning after an initial round of indirect talks in Egypt.

In the occupied West Bank over the weekend, Israeli forces police killed at least two protesters during demonstrations against the Gaza assault.

mkg/ipj (Reuters, AFP, dpa, AP)