Israel-Hamas truce ends; talks on Gaza deadlocked

A Palestinian boy surveys the destruction of buildings at a residential neighborhood, in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014. Hamas held on Thursday its first public rally since a cease-fire with Israel, with Hamas official Mushir al-Masri, vowing the militant group would never give up its arms and will continue to fight until the Gaza Strip blockade is lifted. (AP)

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — A three-day truce between Israel and Hamas has expired after indirect talks in Cairo on new border arrangements for the blockaded Gaza Strip hit a deadlock.

There was no apparent sign of a possible extension of the calm as the truce expired at 0800 (0500 GMT) on Friday. Just before the end of the truce, Gaza militants fired two rockets at Israel.

A senior Hamas official told The Associated Press earlier that the group would not extend the cease-fire because Israel had not responded to any of the Palestinian demands at the negotiations underway in Cairo.

Israel has said it is willing to consider easing border restrictions but demands that Hamas disarm.

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