New Gaza truce to last five days
An Israeli Merkava tank patrols along the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border. (Getty Images) Getty
A new ceasefire in Gaza will last five days, Egypt and a senior Palestinian negotiator said on Wednesday, just minutes before a previous truce was set to expire.
"An agreement to extend the ceasefire for five days has been accepted by both sides to allow more time for negotiations," an Egyptian foreign ministry statement said.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Azzam al-Ahmed confirmed the ceasefire would last for five days, unlike two previous 72-hour lulls.
"There is an agreement on many points regarding lifting the siege," he said of a key Palestinian demand to end an eight-year Israeli blockade of Gaza.
The negotiators needed more time to settle "some" remaining disputes, he told reporters.
The joint Palestinian delegation in Cairo will leave on Thursday to consult with their leaderships, he said.
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