Gaza, Dec 31 (IANS) The Islamic Hamas movement has denied holding any truce talks with Israel.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli media had reported that reaching a long-term truce for relaxation of the Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip “is looming”, reports Xinhua news agency
“The Israeli siege imposed on the Gaza Strip is still going on,” Hamas said in a statement in response later Monday.
Israel was not fully committed to the Egyptian-brokered calm understandings, said the statement.
It also called for ending “the siege and lifting the sanctions that are being practiced”.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Monday said at a cabinet meeting that the Palestinian Authority rejects any truce between Hamas and Israel for humanitarian facilities.
Egypt, Qatar and the UN have been mediating to introduce humanitarian facilities to Gaza and prevent new confrontations between Palestinian factions and Israel.
Israel imposed a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip after it was seized by Hamas in 2007.
–IANS
ksk/