Hamas reluctantly agreed to a new, 72-hour cease-fire proposed by Egypt, starting Aug. 11, after the first truce expired on the morning of Aug. 8, but much to the angst of its rank and file who are adamant to lift the Israeli siege on Gaza.
Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, who is participating in the talks, told Al-Monitor over the phone, “The Palestinian delegation agreed to the new truce after the Egyptian mediator told us that Israel had agreed on it to resume the negotiations. The Israeli delegation had arrived in Cairo without any previous conditions — [as] it had tried to impose in the past — and it had started the continuous negotiations to answer our people’s demands and rights, after our delegation had presented what the Egyptians offered us. Israel is dodging the issue, trying to waste time and escape its responsibilities. It is held responsible for not being able to reach an agreement yet.”
