CAIRO (AP) — Palestinian negotiators are threatening to quit truce talks in Egypt unless Israeli negotiators return to Cairo.
Israeli officials have said their negotiators, who left Egypt on Friday, only will return if the rocket fire from Gaza stops.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says, “Israel will not negotiate under fire.”
Hamas has refused to extend a temporary truce that helped launch the Cairo talks last week, saying it wants guarantees from Israel first that Gaza’s borders will open. Israel and Egypt have enforced the blockade, to varying degrees, since Hamas seized Gaza in 2007.
Since the truce expired Friday, smaller Gaza militant groups — though not Hamas, according to claims of responsibility — have fired dozens of rockets and mortar shells at Israel, including two on Sunday.
Israel continues to respond with airstrikes. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon warns: “If Hamas thinks it has worn us down, it is wrong.”
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011-c-18-(Karin Laub, AP correspondent)-“targets specific areas”-AP correspondent Karin Laub reports each side continues targeting the other. (10 Aug 2014)
< 008-c-16-(Karin Laub, AP correspondent)-“Cairo on Friday”-AP correspondent Karin Laub reports the Palestinians are threatening to leave the Egyptian-brokered talks on ending the Gaza war. (10 Aug 2014) < 010-c-15-(Karin Laub, AP correspondent)-“to the world”-AP correspondent Karin Laub reports Palestinian negotiators have not been happy with Israel’s position during the talks. (10 Aug 2014) < 009-c-15-(Karin Laub, AP correspondent)-“fired at Israel”-AP correspondent Karin Laub reports a Palestinian negotiator says his team is going to quit the Egyptian-brokered talks unless Israeli negotiators return to Cairo. (10 Aug 2014) < APPHOTO AXLP102: Smoke from an Israeli strike rises over Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. Egyptian-brokered talks between Israel and Hamas on a new border deal for Gaza were thrown into doubt Saturday after senior officials said an Israeli team would not rejoin negotiations in Cairo unless rocket fire from Gaza stops. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (10 Aug 2014) < APPHOTO AXLP101: Smoke from a fire caused by an Israeli strike rises over Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. Egyptian-brokered talks between Israel and Hamas on a new border deal for Gaza were thrown into doubt Saturday after senior officials said an Israeli team would not rejoin negotiations in Cairo unless rocket fire from Gaza stops. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (10 Aug 2014) < Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.