以色列哈馬斯繼續在開羅談判

Israel and Hamas continue indirect talks in Cairo on Thursday, with less than a day remaining before the expiration of a 72-hour cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Both sides appeared to be far apart on the issues, but have suggested they are willing to extend the humanitarian truce, which ended four weeks of fighting.

Israeli officials have said they are willing to extend the cease-fire unilaterally, but Hamas representatives have denied that any agreement is in place.

Speaking Wednesday at a summit of African leaders in Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama threw his support behind the Egypt-brokered talks, saying it is important to find a more sustainable solution.

Mr. Obama repeated his position that Israel has a right to defend itself from Hamas rockets and cross-border tunnels. He also said he has "no sympathy" for Hamas, which the U.S. and Israel regard as a terror group.

Hamas is seeking an end to a longstanding Israeli and Egyptian blockade that has led to widespread unemployment, forced a majority of Gazans to rely on food aid, and kept them from traveling outside the enclave.

Israel says it will not loosen its restrictions on Gaza unless it receives assurances that Hamas is disarmed and unable to import weapons.以色列和哈馬斯星期四繼續在開羅舉行直接談判，此時離加沙地帶72小時停火期滿還有不到一天時間。

雙方之間看來存在很大分歧，但曾表示願意延長人道停火。此次停火使持續四周的戰鬥告一段落。

以色列官員曾經表示願意單方面延長停火，但哈馬斯代表否認雙方就此達成任何協議。

美國總統奧巴馬星期四在華盛頓舉行的非洲首腦會議上發表演講時說，他支持埃及斡旋的談判，並表示找到一個更持久地解決問題的途徑很重要。

奧巴馬重申，以色列有權保護本國免遭哈馬斯火箭彈及越界地道襲擊。他還表示自己不同情哈馬斯。美國和以色列將哈馬斯視爲恐怖主義組織。

哈馬斯尋求結束以色列和埃及對加沙地帶的長期封鎖。封鎖導致廣泛的失業，加沙地帶大多數居民不得不依賴救濟食品，而且他們不得離開加沙地帶。

以色列說，除非哈馬斯保證解除武裝和不輸入武器，否則以色列就不會放鬆對加沙地帶的封鎖。