This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/benjamin-netanyahu-deaths-in-gaza-justified-9652725.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Benjamin Netanyahu: Deaths in Gaza ‘justified’ Benjamin Netanyahu says deaths in Gaza ‘justified’ as he offers to extend truce with Hamas militants
(about 7 hours later)
The Israeli Prime Minister has defended the actions of Israel’s armed forces in the recent war in the Gaza Strip, blaming the heavy civilian casualties on Hamas. Israel is ready to extend its ceasefire in the Gaza Strip beyond the current truce, which is scheduled to expire at 8am on Friday, an official has said.
Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s intense bombardment of Gaza was a necessary response to Hamas attacks. Israel had “expressed its readiness to extend the truce under its current terms”, the official added, referring to the three-day cessation of hostilities agreed on Tuesday.
“It was justified. It was proportionate,” he said. But Moussa Abu Marzouk, a senior figure in Hamas, the Palestinian group controlling the Gaza Strip, said on social media: “There is no agreement to extend the ceasefire.”
Nearly 1,900 Palestinians were killed in the fighting, most of them civilians. Israel says some 900 Palestinian militants were among the dead. Netanyahu said he regretted “every” civilian death, but said that Hamas was responsible because it carried out attacks from civilian areas. Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for Hamas, added that “extending the 72-hour calm for another period was not discussed” during indirect talks in Egypt between the Israelis and Palestinians.
In Cairo, indirect Israel-Palestinian negotiations over extending a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and ending a blockade of the territory got underway yesterday. The Palestinian delegation includes negotiators from Hamas, as well as members of Islamic Jihad and the Palestinian Authority.
Israel wants the Islamic militants of Hamas to disarm, or at least ensure they cannot re-arm, before considering the group’s demand that the territory’s borders be opened. Israel and Egypt imposed a closure after the Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007, although Egypt allows individuals to cross intermittently. Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, defended the actions of Israeli forces in Gaza, blaming the heavy civilian casualties on Hamas. He said the intense bombardment was a necessary response to Hamas attacks, adding: “It was justified. It was proportionate.”
“The two sides have reviewed what they consider as issues of concern,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri said, describing the matter as “complicated”. Nearly 1,900 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in the fighting. Mr Netanyahu said he regretted “every” civilian death, but said Hamas was responsible because it carried out rocket attacks from civilian areas.
Egyptian mediators have been shuttling between the delegations, and an Egyptian airport official said the Israeli delegation was back in Cairo last night after flying out earlier in the day. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief reporters. The talks in Cairo centred on extending the ceasefire and ending Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Israel wants Hamas to disarm, or at least ensure that its fighters  cannot re-arm, before considering the group’s demand that Gaza’s borders be re-opened. Israel and Egypt imposed the closure after Hamas took over Gaza in 2007, although Egypt allows individuals to cross intermittently.
The Palestinian delegation is composed of negotiators from all major factions, including Hamas, and is meeting with Egypt’s intelligence chief for briefings on Israel’s demands. “The two sides have reviewed what they consider as issues of concern,” said the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shukri, describing the matter as “complicated”.
“The most important thing to us is removing the blockade and start reconstructing Gaza,” said Bassam Salhi, a Palestinian delegate. “There can be no deal without that.” “The most important thing to us is removing the blockade and starting to reconstruct Gaza,” said Bassam Salhi, a Palestinian delegate. “There can be no deal without that.”
He said the ceasefire, set to expire at 8am on Friday (0500 GMT), would likely be extended if more time for talks is needed. Mr Shukri said he hoped it would be extended.