Israel/Palestine
Related: About this forumAs Israel-Hamas truce holds, IDF discharges 30,000 reservists
No missiles fired since 8 A.M. Tuesday; During course of Gaza op, over 260 rockets were launched from vicinity of schools, IDF says.By Haaretz | Aug. 6, 2014 | 3:11 PM
Live updates [Wednesday]:
3:00 P.M. During course of Gaza op, over 260 rockets were launched from within close vicinity of schools, according to the IDF. (Gili Cohen)
2:36 P.M. IDF discharges some 30,000 reservists called up due to Gaza op. (Gili Cohen)
2:03 P.M. Rocket sirens sound in several towns near Gaza; later announced to be false alarms. (Shirley Seidler)
1:38 P.M. British Prime Minister David Cameron is coming under increased pressure over his government's policies on Gaza, after a cross-party parliamentary committee urged him to press Israel to lift restrictions on trade and travel in the territory.
The Commons International Development Committee says travel and trade curbs on Gaza's people are not "proportionate" and that some are contrary to Israel's obligations under international law.
The committee on Wednesday called on Britain to "encourage Israeli authorities to lift those restrictions which are not justified by security needs."
Cameron is under fire for his support of Israel. Disputes within his Conservative Party were laid bare Tuesday when a prominent member of Cameron's camp, Sayeeda Warsi, resigned as Foreign Office minister in protest of what she called Cameron's "morally indefensible" stance on Gaza. (AP)
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-gaza-conflict-2014/1.609116
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)Egypt reportedly offers to extend ceasefire to 120 hours, tells Palestinian delegation it would allow Rafah crossing opening if PA is put in charge of it.
Roi Kais
Published: 08.06.14, 11:19 / Israel News
While the Israeli leadership remained mum on ceasefire negotiations in Cairo, Palestinian officials were quoted in Arab newspapers on Wednesday saying Egypt has offered to extend the current ceasefire to 120 hours, and that the issue of the disarmament of Gaza is not on the table.
"The negotiations are hard. The Zionist enemy wants to claim achievements and doesn't want to admit its defeat," PFLP member Maher al-Taher said, calling Israel's demand to demilitarize Gaza "a dream."
"We've yet to receive an official response from Israel on the demands we presented to the Egyptians," Hamas political leadership member Izzat al-Rashq said.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4555555,00.html
hack89
(39,171 posts)Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)Humanitarian ceasefire holds for second day as Egyptian mediators pursue talks with Israeli and Palestinian delegates.
Last updated: 06 Aug 2014 13:08
A temporary ceasefire is holding in the Palestinian Gaza Strip as Egyptian mediators pursue talks with Israeli and Palestinian representatives on a long-lasting end to the war that has devastated the Palestinian territory.
Egyptian intelligence officials met in Cairo with a high-level Israeli delegation late on Tuesday, a day after conferring with Palestinians who included envoys from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group, Egyptian officials said on Wednesday.
"The indirect talks between the Palestinians and Israelis are moving forward," one Egyptian official said, making clear that the opposing sides were not meeting face to face.
"It is still too early to talk about outcomes but we are optimistic."
Egyptian and Palestinian sources said further discussions were expected to be held in Cairo on Wednesday, with expectations of an initial response by Israel to Palestinian demands, which it has so far shown no sign of accepting.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/08/lasting-gaza-truce-tops-cairo-talks-agenda-201486115132441659.html