Gaza: Exchange of missiles wrecks Egypt talks

Smoke rises after Israeli air strikes hit Gaza City in response to rockets fired at Beersheba in southern Israel. Picture: Adel Hana/AP

The Israeli walkout occurred just hours before a midnight deadline last night, leaving the fate of the negotiations in question and raising the possibility of a resumption of heavy fighting.

“The Cairo talks were based on an agreed premise of a total cessation of hostilities,” Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said.

“When Hamas breaks the ceasefire, they also break the premise for the Cairo talks. Accordingly, the Israeli team has been called back as a result of today’s rocket fire.”

He would not say whether the team would return to Cairo, or whether Israel would resume ceasefire talks. There was no immediate Egyptian comment, but a Hamas official declared the talks over.

The breakdown dealt a harsh blow to nearly a week of Egyptian-led diplomacy meant to end weeks of fighting that has killed more than 2,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Palestinian and UN officials.

Sixty-seven Israelis, including three civilians, have also been killed. It has been the heaviest fighting between Israel and Hamas since the militant group seized control of Gaza in 2007. Hamas is seeking an end to a seven-year Israeli-Egypt blockade that has ravaged Gaza’s economy, while Israel wants guarantees that Hamas will disarm.

In nearly a week of indirect talks, Egypt appears to have made little headway in resolving the differences. On Monday, it secured a 24-hour extension in a temporary truce to allow more time for a last-ditch bid to reach a longer term deal.

An Egyptian compromise proposal calls for easing the blockade, but not lifting it altogether and opening Gaza’s air and seaports as Hamas has demanded.

While the plan does not require Hamas to give up its weapons, it would give western-backed president Mahmoud Abbas, whose forces were ousted by Hamas in 2007, a foothold back in Gaza, running border crossings and overseeing internationally-backed reconstruction. His presence would minimise friction with Israel and allow international aid to flow into Gaza.

Hours before last night’s deadline, Palestinian militants fired three rockets into Israel. The military said the rockets landed in open areas near the southern Israeli city of Beersheba. Later,  Israel said it intercepted two more rockets over southern Israel.

Hamas officials in Gaza said there were at least 25 air strikes across Gaza. Medical officials said seven people were wounded, including two children. In Cairo, the head of the Palestinian delegation, which is comprised of various factions, said no progress had been made in yesterday’s talks, but expressed hope they could still succeed.

A Hamas official said the talks had collapsed.