< p>A second day begins for truce talks in Cairo, where Hamas representatives met with Egyptian and Qatari mediators. So far, there is no visible progress, as the Islamist group maintains its demand for an agreement to end the war in Gaza, reports Reuters.
According to their source, the Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo determined to reach a deal "but not at any cost".
"The agreement is supposed to end the war and withdraw Israeli forces from Gaza, and Israel has not yet committed that it is ready to do so," a senior Palestinian official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
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While the current negotiations are ongoing, Israeli planes and tanks have continued to attack areas in the Palestinian enclave overnight, killing and wounding several people, according to health officials and local residents in Gaza.
Israel wants a deal to release at least some of the 130 or so hostages held by Hamas. However, yesterday it became clear that their position had changed - Israel "under no circumstances" will not agree to a deal to end the war, maintaining intentions to pursue Hamas in order to disarm and dismantle it forever.
The talks are "challenged as the occupation (Israel) refuses to commit to a comprehensive ceasefire," another Palestinian source told Reuters, adding that a Hamas delegation was still in Cairo hoping that mediators can pressure Israel to change its position.
Thousands of Israelis protested yesterday demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accept a ceasefire deal with Hamas that would see the remaining hostages returned home.
Israel has given preliminary approval to the terms, which one source said include the return of between 20 and 33 hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and a truce of several weeks.