Two sides in Gaza conflict to begin indirect talks in Cairo

A month after the end of hostilities in Gaza, Israeli and Palestinian representatives are set to meet in Cairo tomorrow for indirect talks aimed at alleviating the plight of Gaza residents and ensuring a permanent ceasefire.

Top of the agenda will be measures to open the border crossings and allow in desperately-needed humanitarian assistance and building materials. The two sides, via Egyptian mediation, will also discuss the future construction of a sea port, restoring Gaza’s airport and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for the remains of two Israeli soldiers.

A month ago, after 50 days of fighting which left more than 2,100 Palestinians dead, most of them civilians, along with 72 Israelis, including six civilians, the two sides agreed to an open-ended truce, with negotiations in 30 days to address a host of unresolved issues.

Hamas demands that Israel and Egypt lift their blockade of Gaza, but has rejected out of hand Israel's linkage of easing restrictions to the disarming of the militant groups. Neither side is keen to resume fighting, but the danger exists of a flare up in cross-border fire if no solution is found.

Israel has promised to ease restrictions on movement of personnel and goods through the two crossings into Gaza which it controls, but only if a mechanism is in place to ensure that building materials will not reach militant groups for the construction of new tunnels.

Today, representatives from Fatah, which is headed by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, are due to meet with officials from Hamas, which controls Gaza, in preliminary discussions seen as vital to hopes for a successful outcome to the main Cairo discussions.

Hamas has agreed that the Palestinian Authority will control the Gaza side of the border crossings and will take charge of international donations for rehabilitation.

However, the two parties, who reached agreement in April on the formation of a unity government, remain at odds on exactly how much control the Palestinian Authority will exert in Gaza. Relations have soured in recent weeks with Mr Abbas accusing Hamas of operating a “shadow government”.