Palestinians, Israelis hope 24-hour truce extension leads to sustainable peace
- 10 years ago
The hallmarks of war are everywhere in Gaza's Khan Younis.
Three weeks of bombardment have left the community in ruins.
Yet the sounds of airstrikes and mortar shells have been absent for several days now, giving residents some hope that the latest 24-hour truce extension will lead to lasting peace.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF KHAN YOUNIS, SUBHI ABU JAME'E, SAYING:
"We will stay home until there's a ceasefire. If there isn't, we'll have to leave to UN schools or safer places."
And Palestinian officials warn that violence could erupt again at any moment.
Negotiators from both sides are in Egypt for talks, but gaps on key issues remain.
On the other side of the border with Gaza, Israeli forces are keeping their positions.
Israel launched its offensive on July 8 after a surge in Hamas rocket fire from Gaza.
But today, exhausted by the conflict, most Israelis are also hoping for a long-term deal.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI
Three weeks of bombardment have left the community in ruins.
Yet the sounds of airstrikes and mortar shells have been absent for several days now, giving residents some hope that the latest 24-hour truce extension will lead to lasting peace.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF KHAN YOUNIS, SUBHI ABU JAME'E, SAYING:
"We will stay home until there's a ceasefire. If there isn't, we'll have to leave to UN schools or safer places."
And Palestinian officials warn that violence could erupt again at any moment.
Negotiators from both sides are in Egypt for talks, but gaps on key issues remain.
On the other side of the border with Gaza, Israeli forces are keeping their positions.
Israel launched its offensive on July 8 after a surge in Hamas rocket fire from Gaza.
But today, exhausted by the conflict, most Israelis are also hoping for a long-term deal.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI