The Prime Minister’s Office issues a statement denying any negotiations between Israel and Hamas, only hours after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas claimed that direct talks between representatives of both parties recently took place in an African country.
“Israel officially clarifies that there have been no meetings with Hamas,” reads a statement by the PMO. “Not directly, not through another country and not through intermediaries.”
Earlier today, Haaretz quoted a Turkish official as saying that Israel and Hamas are on the verge of a breakthrough in negotiations over a possible long-term truce agreement. The daily added that other Turkish sources indicated that the establishment of a seaport in the Gaza Strip was being discussed in the talks between Israel and Hamas as well.
According to Arabic media outlets quoted by Haaretz, the proposed truce would last for up to 10 years, and even the Islamic Jihad terrorist group would enter into the agreement.
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