Egypt finalising details of long-term truce between Israel, Hamas

Egypt is finalising the details of a long-term truce between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip after a recent escalation in violence.

Israel reopened its only goods crossing with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after closing it to most deliveries on 9 July over months of border tensions, as relative calm returned and truce talks progressed.

An Israeli official said on condition of anonymity that an initial set of "understandings" had been reached with the help of Egypt and United Nations officials, leading to calm over the last several days and the opening of the crossing.

An Egyptian security source told Reuters that details of the deal are still being finalised.

"We are putting the final touches to the terms of the truce that will be signed by all sides, and we expect to announce the terms next week if Fatah helps us to do so," the source said.

"The period of calm will be for one year, during which contacts will be held to extend it for another four years".

Fatah's backing is crucial to any deal as the party still retains a large presence in the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas.

The outline of the long-term truce deal is identical to that established after the deadly 2014 Gaza war, but Israeli officials have said it hinges on whether Hamas releases the bodies of two captured soldiers

Officials from Fatah have not yet joined Hamas and other Palestinian factions for talks in Cairo, but Mahmoud Abbas has reportedly informed Egypt that representatives would participate later this week or next week.

A long-term truce could pave the way for talks on other issues, including easing Israel's crippling decade-long blockade and a prisoner swap of Palestinian detainees and the bodies of two Israeli soldiers.

The Egyptian security source said any extended truce would also include opening a sea lane from Gaza to Cyprus, which would be under Israeli supervision.

Hamas has long stipulated access to a sea port as a key objective. Under the blockade, goods heading to Gaza are shipped to Israeli ports and then trucked into Gaza.

The forthcoming deal could also include Qatari funding for Gaza's electricity bills and civil servant salaries, al-Mayadeen reported.

Civil servants have not been paid in months amid a spat between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, while the only power plant in Gaza stopped operations in July due to a shortage of fuel.

Gaza's two million residents receive four hours of electricity per day on average.

The outline of the long-term truce deal is identical to that established after the deadly 2014 Gaza war, but Israeli officials have said it hinges on whether Hamas releases the bodies of two captured soldiers and two Israeli civilians held in the Gaza Strip.

"Nothing will be done to enable (Gaza's) significant rehabilitation and the improvement of infrastructure and ports and other such fantasies, unless they release the bodies and the two Israeli captives," Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi told Israel radio on Thursday.

Palestinian officials have denied any talks on a prisoner swap were taking place.

Israel has maintained a crippling siege on the Gaza Strip for more than a decade which it says is necessary to isolate Hamas, with whom it has fought three wars since 2008. 

The crippling blockade of the besieged enclave has led to chronic energy and medication shortages, and tightening restrictions on exit permits for Gazans in need of medical care outside of the territory pose critical health risks.

Human rights groups say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's two million residents.

Agencies contributed to this report.

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