Talks in Cairo on a possible temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are continuing, they have not collapsed, German Agency sources in the Egyptian intelligence service assured yesterday Tuesday.

According to these sources, neither Hamas nor any other party has withdrawn from the negotiations. Earlier, media reports said that the Palestinian Islamist movement had withdrawn.

Hamas representatives did not confirm this information to dpa.

An official of the faction said during a press conference in Beirut yesterday that Hamas had responded “positively” to Qatar and Egypt’s proposals, but accused Israel of “obstruction and meandering.”

Osama Hamdan added that “we will not allow the road to negotiations to be open, without a horizon, as the war of starvation and extermination continues against our people.”

He reiterated that the security of the Palestinian people in the enclave will only be ensured if Israel’s offensive ends, an immediate ceasefire is declared and Israeli troops are fully withdrawn. “This is a priority and there will be no prisoner exchange if it is not achieved,” he added.

Negotiations are said to be at a fairly advanced stage. However, there has been no agreement yet due to “internal conflict” in Israel. However, the remaining obstacles are said to be “marginal”.