MOSCOW, August 3 (RIA Novosti) – Delegations representing Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad have arrived in the capital of Egypt, Cairo to hold negotiations on a Gaza truce via Egyptian and US mediators, Reuters reported Sunday.
According to the agency, Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns will also take part in the negotiating process.
Among the demands put forward by the Hamas movement is easing border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
Israeli authorities said Saturday that they would not send their representatives for the talks.
Egypt last month came up with peace plan to settle the conflict between Israel and the Hamas rebels calling for a bilateral ceasefire and subsequent negotiations in Cairo.
Following long debated, the Hamas movement decided to turn down the proposal demanding an end to the Gaza blockade.
On Friday morning, a three-day humanitarian pause brokered by the United Nations and the United States and supposed to be followed by talks on a longer-lasting deal entered into force.
The truce soon collapsed with the two warring sides trading the blame for its violation.
On July 8, Israel launched its Operation Protective Edge to put an end to rocket fire from Gaza. On July 17, the Israeli Army switched to a ground assault largely aimed at locating and destroying rocket launchers and underground tunnels.
According to recent estimates, more than 1,700 Palestinians, mostly civilians, died throughout the course of the operation. The Israeli side lost 67 people.
