Egypt invites Israel, Palestinian groups for further talks on Gaza ceasefire

Source: Xinhua | 01-19-2009 08:09

CAIRO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has invited Israel and the Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip for more talks on means of consolidating a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave, Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

Separate meetings with the two sides involved in the Gaza conflict was scheduled for January 22 in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said in a press release.

The talks with Israel and the Palestinian factions will seek to reach a deal on a package of moves to implement an Egyptian ceasefire proposal presented by President Hosni Mubarak on Jan. 6,said the spokesman.

On Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared a unilateral ceasefire in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. On Sunday, the Israeli army began withdrawing part of its troops from Gaza in what it said was an overall redeployment.

The partial withdraw followed an announcement from Hamas and other Gazan militant groups on Sunday that they would stage a one-week ceasefire with Israel, during which Israel must withdraw its troops.

More than 1,300 Gazans have been killed and over 5,500 wounded in Israel's massive onslaught, dubbed Operation Cast Lead, and 13 Israelis have also died.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei