Israel says goals for Gaza truce talks would include easing blockade in exchange for calm

Tel Aviv has set out limited goals for the initial negotiations on the situation in the Gaza Strip, which has seen mass protests, shootings and the use of firebomb kites by Palestinians along the Gaza-Israel fence. Israel offers easing the blockade of the Palestinian enclave controlled by the militant Hamas movement in exchange for Palestinians calming their side of the frontier. “A complete ceasefire [by the Palestinians] will lead, on Israel’s part, to the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing and renewal of the permits given in respect to the fishing zones,” an Israeli official said as cited by Reuters. Israel’s offer effectively means lifting the restrictions Tel Aviv imposed on Gaza on July 9.