Chief Palestinian delegate accuses Israelis of stalling in truce talks
Palestinian delegate warns violence will erupt again in Gaza unless deal is struck
The chief Palestinian delegate to truce talks with Israel warned yesterday that Gaza violence could erupt anew unless progress was made towards a lasting deal.
After a last-minute agreement was stuck with Israel at Egyptian-brokered talks to extend an expiring truce by 24 hours, Azzam al-Ahmad, senior leader of President Mahmoud Abbas' mainstream Fatah movement, said in Cairo that there had been "no progress on any point" in talks aimed at resolving the conflict.
"We hope that every minute of the coming 24 hours will be used to reach an agreement, and if not, the circle of violence will continue," he said.
He accused Israel of "manoeuvring and stalling" as gaps on key issues continued to dog efforts to achieve a long-term deal between Israel and militant groups in the Gaza Strip, dominated by Hamas Islamists, which would allow reconstruction aid to flow in after five weeks of fighting.
Senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk accused Israel of stalling and insisted on Twitter that the group "will never cede any" demands for a comprehensive deal.
A senior Palestinian official in Gaza said sticking points to an agreement were Hamas' demands to build a seaport and an airport, which Israel wants to discuss only at a later stage.
