Israel not to attend truce talks despite Cairo’s invitation

Israel not to attend truce talks despite Cairo’s invitation
Sat Aug 2, 2014 21:03:29

The Israeli regime has refused to send a delegation to the planned Gaza truce negotiations in Egyptian capital, turning down Cairo’s invitation for talks on a ceasefire deal to end the bloodshed in the besieged Gaza Strip.

A senior Israeli official claimed on Saturday that there is no point in promoting a truce agreement as Tel Aviv is considering ending its Gaza military aggression once deterrence is restored there.

He further maintained that Israeli troops will conclude their Gaza onslaught by providing what the official described as “quiet for quiet.”

Egypt has invited the Israeli regime and the Palestinian Authority to Cairo for talks on a truce deal.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had earlier insisted that his government’s ceasefire initiative could end Tel Aviv’s brutal offensive in the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip.

This is while the President of the Palestinian National Unity Government Mahmoud Abbas has said a joint Palestinian delegation, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, will travel to Cairo for ceasefire talks despite the renewed fighting.

An Egyptian-brokered 72-hour ceasefire on Friday broke down within hours after Israeli forces committed yet another major massacre in southern Gaza, killing dozens of Palestinian men, women and children in relentless shelling of central and southern parts of the impoverished enclave.

Initial reports say more than 150 Palestinians were killed over the past 24 hours in Israel’s heavy bombardment of the territory.

Palestinian Health Ministry sources say at least 1,654 Palestinians have been killed and 9,000 others injured in 26 days of Israel’s assaults on Gaza. Most of the casualties are civilians, including women and children.

RA/NJF

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