GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Egyptian diplomat says indirect talks on implementing a cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian militants have opened in Cairo.
Monday's talks are the first since Egypt brokered a truce last week ending eight days of heavy fighting. Israel carried out some 1,500 airstrikes against the Gaza Strip during the fighting, while militants fired a similar number of rockets into Israel.
Now that the fighting has subsided, Egypt will work with the sides on negotiating new border arrangements for the territory.
The negotiations won't be simple. Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad movement demand an end to Israeli and Egyptian restrictions on movement in and out of Gaza. Israel wants a halt to arms smuggling into Gaza.
Yasser Othman, Egypt's top diplomat in the West Bank, confirmed the talks have begun.
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