Hamas Armed Wing Threatens To Resume War If Gaza Truce Demands Aren't Met

Hamas Armed Wing Threatens To Resume War If Truce Demands Aren't Met
A makeshift tent stands near to 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 Photo/Hatem Moussa)
A makeshift tent stands near to 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 Photo/Hatem Moussa)

CAIRO, Aug 7 (Reuters) - The armed wing of Hamas called on Palestinian negotiators in Cairo not to extend a 72-hour truce unless their demands, in particular for the opening of Gaza's port, were met and warned it was ready to engage in a long war.

"We urge the Palestinian delegation negotiating not to renew the truce except after the acceptance in principle, particularly to the port (opening), and if there is no acceptance then we ask the delegation to withdraw from talks," a fighter, his face hidden behind a Palestinian scarf, said in a televised statement from Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades. The statement was aired on the Qatari-owned Al Jazeera news network.

The 72-hour truce is due to end at 0500 GMT on Friday. (Reporting by Lin Noueihed; editing by Andrew Roche)

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