Gaza truce extended for 24 hours: Palestinian official

CAIRO (AFP) - Israeli and Palestinian negotiators agreed on Monday to extend a temporary ceasefire in Gaza by 24 hours to conduct more talks on a long-term truce, a senior Palestinian official said.

The current five-day ceasefire was set to expire at midnight local time (5am Singapore time).

"Both sides have agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire," the official with the Palestinian delegation in Cairo said.

The negotiations centre on an Egyptian proposal that meets some of the Palestinian demands, such as easing the blockade of Gaza, but defer other stumbling blocks to later negotiations.

Hamas had repeatedly warned it would not extend the ceasefire, pressing for immediate gains that would allow it to claim concessions from Israel after the devastating four-week war in July and August.

But the militant group has come under pressure from both Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and Egypt, which borders Gaza to the west.

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