‘All Palestinian groups don’t want truce extended’

All the Palestinian factions whose representatives are currently in Cairo indirectly negotiating a ceasefire in Israel with Egyptian mediation don’t want to extend the 72-hour truce that expired this morning, Israel Radio quotes senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad as saying.

Al-Ahmad says that though all the factions will remain in Cairo to continue negotiating an agreement with Egypt to lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip, they are united in their decision not to extend the ceasefire with Israel.

He adds that though none of the factions want an escalation with Israel, they will not renege on their demands for a long-term truce.

These demands include lifting the blockade on the Gaza Strip, allowing goods to be transferred into and from it without delay, opening a seaport and airport in Gaza and re-releasing prisoners freed in the exchange to free Gilad Shalit.