Israel recalls negotiators from Cairo peace talks

World Today

Israeli AirstrikeSmoke billows following an Israeli air strike in Rafah in the southern of Gaza Strip, on August 19, 2014. Photo: AFP/Said Khatib

With the renewed conflict between the Israelis and Hamas, the peace talks in Egypt appear to have hit a road block. CCTV America’s Adel El Mahrouky reports.

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Israel recalls negotiators from Cairo peace talks

With the renewed conflict between the Israelis and Hamas, the peace talks in Egypt appear to have hit a road block. CCTV America's Adel El Mahrouky reports.

The attacks came just hours after Egypt secured a 24-hour extension to its temporary truce, and they halted talks that have been struggling for days.

Analysts say both sides need a truce, yet they are a long way from a deal.

“Both sides want to reach a quick calm. But from their own perspective they also want to get the most gains, to justify to their people why there were thousands killed in Gaza and why millions of shekels were spent on the war. International pressure is mounting on Israel and suspicions are surrounding Hamas’s positions in this conflict, so both can’t afford lose more.” – Yasser Tantawy, Deputy Chief, Al Goumhoriya Centre for Strategic Studies

More than 2,000 people were killed in the month-long conflict. Egypt has been mediating for several days. It’s proposed an end to the hostilities and a lifting of the six-year blockade of Gaza. Neither side, though, is willing to give ground.

“The Palestinian delegation cannot provide any sacrifices in these talks. The talks are to end the Israeli aggression on Palestinians, Second to regain Palestinian rights that the Israeli enemy wasted.” – Hazem Abo Shanab, Revolutionary Council, Fatah

The Palestinian delegation chief Azzam el Ahmed had earlier said the only sticking points were in phrasing.

Michele Dunne is the Senior Associate of the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International peace.

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Michele Dunne is the Senior Associate of the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International peace.