72-hour ceasefire and Israeli-Palestinian talks in Cairo

(Baonghean.vn) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State John Kerry announced on Thursday, July 31, a 72-hour ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where fighting between the Israeli army and Hamas has been taking place since July 8. This agreement was approved by both Israel and the Palestinian Islamic movement and will take effect on the morning of Friday, August 1, at 8:00 a.m. local time (12 noon Vietnam time).

"This ceasefire is important, it will give innocent civilians a much-needed respite from the violence. During this time, the people of Gaza will receive urgently needed humanitarian aid and have the opportunity to bury their loved ones, care for the wounded and replenish food stocks. Repairs to water and energy infrastructure can also continue during this time," US Secretary of State John Kerry said during his official visit to India.

The statement by Ban Ki-moon and the US Secretary of State made it clear that “the forces present in Gaza will remain in place” during the ceasefire, meaning that Israel will not withdraw. The US Secretary of State added that Israel will be able to continue its military campaign “behind the lines” drawn during the fighting, against tunnels dug by Hamas.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State John Kerry jointly announced that long-term ceasefire negotiations will take place in Cairo.Photo-AFP

Before the ceasefire took effect, at least eight Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli tanks on the night of July 31 to August 1 in Khan Younes in the southern Gaza Strip, according to local rescue groups.

Israeli and Palestinian delegates will immediately meet in Cairo to negotiate a lasting ceasefire. US Ambassador to the Middle East Frank Lowenstein will also be in the Egyptian capital to attend the talks.

Ezzat Al-Rishq, a member of the political executive committee of the Gaza Strip based in Doha, has insisted that major agreements are needed to resolve the blockade by Israel. "More work is needed. But at the moment the whole world knows that Gaza does not accept a capital," he told France-Presse in a telephone interview from Doha.

Also on July 31, the United Nations Security Council once again called for an "immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire" and supported "humanitarian pauses" to provide relief to civilians.

Earlier in the day, Israel called up 16,000 reservists, bringing the total number of troops in the war to 86,000. The Security Council unanimously approved the pursuit of attacks on Hamas "terror targets." A general in charge of the Gaza Strip explained that destroying the tunnels was only a "matter of time," confirming that 32 tunnels had been discovered so far, half of which had been bombed. (Reported by Le Monde, July 31 - August 1).

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