RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territory – A Palestinian negotiator says Egypt will host indirect talks between Israelis and Palestinians on a sustained Gaza cease-fire deal, and negotiations between Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah on who should run the territory.
Azzam al-Ahmed, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told Palestinian radio Sunday that talks will be held Tuesday in Cairo.
A 50-day war between Israel and Gaza’s ruling Hamas ended in late August. Tuesday’s talks are meant to reach a longer-term arrangement between the foes.
They will also try to resolve an internal Palestinian rift. Al-Ahmed says Abbas wants real authority in Gaza, but Hamas balks at ceding control of its security forces. Hamas seized Gaza from Abbas’ Fatah in 2007.
Israel and Egypt see the Western-backed Abbas as a guarantor of any Gaza border deal.
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