A delegation from Israel arrived in Cairo on Monday morning to resume negotiations about a permanent truce with the Palestinians after the latest Egypt-brokered truce took effect at midnight.

An Israeli official previously said they would only return to Cairo for the talks if the most recent 72-hour ceasefire would hold. Hamas delegation head Azzam Ahmed said on Sunday they would leave Cairo unless Israel agreed to resume the talks without laying out pre-conditions, according to Haaretz.

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The Israeli delegation flew home on Friday when both sides failed to arrive at an agreement to extend the previous truce. The month-long war between Israel and Hamas militants left 1,910 Palestinians and 67 Israelis dead, Reuters reported.

Just before the ceasefire took effect, the Israeli army reported that a rocket hit Tel Aviv. Hamas claimed responsibility for the missile attack.

On Sunday, a Hamas official announced that Palestinian factions accepted Egypt's proposed truce and agreed to resume the indirect talks in Cairo.

However, Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri warned that the discussions would be their last attempt to seal a deal.

Hamas demanded that Israel and Egypt end the blockades at the Gaza Strip and a seaport as a condition to the truce. Israel said they would deal with this issue only during discussions on a permanent truce with the Palestinians.

United Nations humanitarian coordinator James Rawley told AFP the blockade should be lifted to allow Gaza to transport materials for rebuilding and trading. He said it needs to be done so that the place will thrive.

On Monday, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz explained that disarming the militants was very important in maintaining a long-term ceasefire. He also expressed his hope to achieve this goal through a diplomatic rather than a military solution.

Meanwhile, shops in Gaza started opening and road traffic returned to normal as displaced residents returned to their homes they abandoned during the attacks. After several failed ceasefires, the Gazans hoped that the Cairo talks would yield a lasting truce in their region.

TagsCairo, Israel, Gaza, Reuters, Haaretz, Azzam Ahmed, Egypt, Hamas, Palestinians, Israelis, Sami Abu Zuhri, Gaza Strip, AFP, James Rawley, Yuval Steinitz