Israel, Palestinians to resume talks in Cairo

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will officially resume Egypt-sponsored ceasefire indirect talks Sunday, Azzam el-Ahmed, chief of the Palestinian delegation in Cairo, said.

The negotiators of both countries will arrive in Cairo later Saturday to resume talks over a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Xinhua reported.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, confirmed that members of the Palestinian delegation are arriving in Cairo Saturday night.

"The ball is in Israel's playground over reaching an agreement," he said, adding that "the Palestinian factions are ready for any possibility and still stick to their demands and requirements."

The Palestinians want Israel to completely lift around an seven-year Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, Zuhri added.

Azzam el-Ahmed, chief of the Palestinian delegation in Cairo, said earlier that the ceasefire talks will officially resume Sunday and will continue till Monday.

"The delegation will get the instructions from the leadership and gets back to Cairo," el-Ahmad added.

Late Wednesday night, the Palestinian and Israeli delegations in Cairo agreed to a five-day ceasefire, which was the third time Egypt brokered peace deal, to end the Israeli offensive on Gaza started July 8.

So far, about 1,980 Palestinians were killed and more than 10,200 wounded, while Hamas 64 Israeli soldiers and three civilians were killed in Hamas attacks.