Sides In Gaza Talks Dig In As Cease-Fire End Looms

CAIRO (AP) Israeli and Palestinian negotiators in Egypt-mediated Gaza truce talks in Cairo have hardened their positions ahead of the expiration of a five-day cease-fire at midnight Monday night.

The Gaza blockade, imposed by Israel and Egypt since the Hamas militants took control of the strip in 2007, remains the main stumbling block in talks.

The month-long Israel-Hamas war has killed more than 1,900 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians, according to Palestinian and U.N. officials. Israel has lost 67 people, all but three of them soldiers.

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