Hamas must meet security needs for long-standing truce: Israel PM

Statement comes as Israeli delegation heads to Cairo for talks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly said that Israel will not accept any long-standing ceasefire agreement unless Hamas meets its security needs.

While addressing a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said on Sunday that the Israeli delegation will hold on to Israel's security demands firmly during peace negotiations in Cairo, reported News 24.

The statement came as the Israeli delegation made its way back to Cairo for indirect talks with Gaza-based Hamas to forge a long-standing truce in order to end the conflict. The talks mediated by Cairo are taking place during the five-day-long ceasefire, which is scheduled to expire at midnight on Monday.

While Israel has demanded the demilitarisation of Gaza as a pre-condition for beginning any talks about rebuilding the destroyed enclaves, Hamas has demanded the lifting of the eight-year blockade on Gaza strait by Israel, a sea-port and an airport.