Israel’s negotiating team, consisting of Shin Bet Director Yoram Cohen, former head of Military Intelligence Production Division Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad and Yitzhak Molcho, has arrived in Cairo to begin ceasefire talks with Hamas officials. The talks will be moderated by Egyptian officials.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said the Palestinians would have to surrender the missiles in their possession in order for the border crossings to be opened. Speaking to the BBC, Kerry called Hamas’ prosecution of the current mini-war “unbelievable” and placed the responsibility for the conflict squarely on the shoulders of Hamas leaders.
However, Hamas leaders say they “won” the current war and added they would not agree to demilitarising the Strip. One Hamas spokesman, Izzat al-Rishq, said that Hamas would consider extending the current ceasefire past the current three days, but another spokesman, Osama Hamdan, added that the terror group would not agree to a return to the previous situation – namely “seige” and closed borders.
Egypt told the Palestinian delegation that their demand to establish an airport and a naval port in Gaza would not be up for discussion
