Palestinian factions call for resumption of Egyptian-brokered talks with
Israel
Following the death of a Hamas fighter shot by the Israeli army, Palestinian
factions have called on Egypt to resume its role as broker in the truce it
negotiated in August
Mariam Mecky , Thursday 25 Dec 2014
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/118839/World/Region/Palestinian-factions-call-for-resumption-of-Egypti.aspx

Senior Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk, senior Fatah official Azzam
Al-Ahmed, head of the Hamas government Ismail Haniyeh and deputy speaker of
Palestinian Parliament Ahmed Bahar attend a meeting in Gaza City, April 22,
2014. (

Palestinian factions called on Egypt in their meeting on Thursday in
Gaza to resume its status as broker in the negotiations between them and
Israel to maintain peace in the strip, Egypt's state-run MENA news agency
reported.

The factions met on Thursday following a statement made by Hamas on
Wednesday, which called for a meeting after one of its members was shot by
the Israeli army.

Israel launched an air strike and tank fire in southern Gaza Wednesday and
killed a Hamas fighter after an attack on a border patrol, AFP reported.

In a press conference after the meeting, Khaled Al-Batsh, a senior leader of
Islamic Jihad, called on Egypt to resume the negotiations immediately to
pressure the Israeli enemy into stopping its aggression on Palestinians,
MENA reported.

Al-Batsh held Israel responsible for the latest escalation, which he
regarded as a breach of the Egyptian-brokered truce following the Israeli
assault on Gaza this past summer. He also stressed that the Palestinian
people have a right to defend themselves against Israeli aggression.

On its part, the Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades, the military wing of the
Palestinian popular resistance, said during the press conference that Israel
"shall pay the price of violating the terms of the truce", adding that its
members would "respond immediately to any act of aggression."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah did not attend the meeting.

Fatah spokesperson Fayez Abu Atiya told the Palestinian Maan news agency
that the movement is awaiting the results of a probe on the Gaza explosion
targeting Fatah leaders, which is being carried out by several Palestinian
factions.

Abu Atiya called on the factions and particularly Hamas to work on the
explosions probe as Fatah has not received any results.

On 18 December, Palestinian factions Popular Front, Democratic Front and
Islamic Jihad announced a political initiative that seeks to revitalise a
unity government.

The initiative aims to form a committee of all factions and prominent
Palestinian figures to support the unity government in practicing its role
in Gaza and continue the ongoing probe over the Gaza explosion.

The Israeli military struck Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip early
Saturday in its first airstrike on the besieged Palestinian territory since
their assault on Gaza this summer.

An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between the Palestinian factions and Israel
reached on 26 August ended a 50-day Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip.
Nearly 2,200 Palestinians lost their lives during the offensive, in addition
to more than 12,000 injured, most of whom were civilians.

On the Israeli side, 73 were killed, mostly soldiers. The Israeli
destruction of homes during the assault left tens of thousands of
Palestinians homeless.