Israel warns on security as Gaza truce talks resume

August 18, 2014 08:01

Israel has warned that it would refuse any long-term truce deal that failed to satisfy its security needs as Gaza ceasefire talks resumed in Cairo.

Egyptian-brokered indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are taking place during a five-day lull in the fighting that was due to expire at midnight on Monday.

The aim is to broker a long-term arrangement to halt over a month of bloody fighting which erupted on July 8 and has so far claimed 1,980 Palestinians lives and 67 on the Israeli side.

But as the Israeli team landed in Cairo, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they would not agree to any proposal which did not offer a clear answer to Israel's security needs.

"The Israeli delegation in Cairo is acting with a very clear mandate to stand firmly on Israel's security needs," said Netanyahu.

"Only if there is a clear answer to Israel's security needs, only then will we agree to reach an understanding."

The talks began today afternoon at the headquarters of Egyptian intelligence, with four Gaza officials, among them Hamas and Islamic Jihad delegates, due later the same day. It was the first time the teams had sat down since Wednesday after the negotiators returned home for consultations with their respective political masters.

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