CRI听力:Civilians Hope for Long-term Truce between Israel and Gaza

Israel renewed airstrikes on targets in the Gaza Strip after rocket attacks from the besieged enclave resumed on Friday. Five Palestinians were killed with over 20 injured.

Adnan Abu Hasna, a spokesperson of the UN's Relief and Works Agency in Gaza, says most of the people who left the UN schools during the ceasefire have come back to these shelters.

"They were very hopeful actually to see an end to this war and go back to their normal life. I think that many of them were shocked at the moment when they see shelling and hear about bomb blasting here and there. They thought that this ceasefire was terminal and not for a short time. Now they return to panic and pressure. They again fled their home. They are at war atmosphere again."

Similar feelings have also come to citizens in southern Israel, where rockets injured three after the ceasefire. Ronit Minaker is the spokesperson of Eshkol Regional Council bordering Gaza.

"I think the word 'disappointed' is too small for what we are feeling for this situation. We don't know what will happen, but of course we don't want this war. We are suffering from it. It's stopped our life for a month. We can do nothing normally in this situation. We want this to end with an agreement that can stays for a few years, not a few months. And of course we want peace here, not the rockets again."

Hamas didn't agree to extend the 72-hour ceasefire as Israel refused the Palestinian demands including lifting the blockade of Gaza and the construction a seaport.

Mukhaimar Abu Saada is a university professor in Gaza.

"The Israeli siege and blockade of the Gaza Strip is a violation of the international law, and it is a collective punishment of the 1.8 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It is depriving the Palestinians of a normal life. Lifting the siege and blockade against Gaza is a humanitarian need for the Palestinians."

On the other hand, Hamas refused the demilitarization in Gaza as Israel insists. Professor Abu Saada says the major problem comes from the continuation of the Israeli occupation.

"Israel is asking, in order to lift the siege and blockade of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinians will have to disarm themselves. And the Palestinians are saying that armed resistance is a result of Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. As long as the Israeli occupation continues, the Palestinians have the right to resist. And once this occupation is ended and the Palestinians have their own independent state, they will disarm themselves and they don't need these weapons any longer."

Despite the disagreements between the two sides, Abu Saada says efforts are still ongoing and a long-term ceasefire is possible.

This is also the hope of other civilians in Gaza, says Abu Hasna with UN.

"They believe that finally they will find a last terminal ceasefire because there's no choice actually. They think that the international community will not allow things to escalate more as they see that too many civilians are paying the price of this war."

Sources in Cairo said that Palestinian and Israeli delegations had "agreed to almost all main points that need a solution" through indirect talks, and only "limited" disagreements remain. The sources said negotiations could go on under fire until an agreement is reached.

For CRI, I'm XYee.