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Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Ceasefire in Gaza extended for 234 hours for sides to finish talks in Cairo

Earlier in the day, sources in the Palestinian delegation said that the sides had agreed in principle to extend the ceasefire, possibly for a month

© EPA / JIM HOLLANDER

CAIRO, August 19 /ITAR-TASS/. The ceasefire in Gaza has been extended for 24 hours to allow Palestine and Israel to conclude their talks in Cairo, Hamas political bureau member Izzat al-Rishq said on Monday.

Earlier in the day, sources in the Palestinian delegation said that the sides had agreed in principle to extend the ceasefire, possibly for a month.

If the pause in fighting holds, then in 30 days the warring sides can start discussing disputable issues, including the opening of the airport in Gaza, creation of a seaport there, release of prisoners and exchange of two Israeli soldiers who are missing in Gaza.

Al Jazeera said a preliminary agreement had been reached at the Cairo talks to open border crossing points under international control, send construction materials to the Strip and start rebuilding its infrastructure under the supervision of the Palestinian government of national consensus led by Rami al-Hamdallah.

Israel also sees no obstacles to gradual expansion of the fishing area for Palestinians from 6 to 9 mines at first and eventually to 12 miles.

According to Sky News Arabia, the full Palestinian delegation has signed an updated version of the final truce agreement proposed by Egypt. Several Palestinian media reported that the Israeli delegation had left Cairo with this document in order to take it to its government for approval.

The five-day ceasefire is to end in less than an hour (midnight local time).

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