AP, Cairo, 6 August 2014 — Israel and Hamas began indirect talks on a new border deal for the blockaded Gaza Strip as a cease-fire ending their month-long war entered its second day Wednesday.
Israel has said it wants the Islamic militant Hamas to disarm, or at least ensure it cannot re-arm, before considering the group’s demand that the territory’s borders be opened.
Israel and Egypt imposed a closure after the Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007.The indirect talks are being held in Cairo, with Egyptian mediators shuttling between the delegations.
Disarming Hamas tops the list of Israeli demands presented in a meeting with Egyptian mediators late Tuesday, said an Egyptian security official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The Israeli delegation has since left for Israel but was to return to Cairo later Wednesday, the official added.