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Israel, Hamas dig in as Gaza talks go on in Cairo

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu points at a video screen showing Hamas militants firing rockets into Israel from areas near schools and Hamas deploying civilians as human shields, as he gives a press conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014. Netanyahu defended Israel's intense bombardment of Gaza, saying that despite the high civilian death toll it was a "justified" and "proportionate" response to Hamas attacks. (AP Photo/Jim Hollander, Pool) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu points at a video screen showing Hamas militants firing rockets into Israel from areas near schools and Hamas deploying civilians as human shields, as he gives a press conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014. Netanyahu defended Israel's intense bombardment of Gaza, saying that despite the high civilian death toll it was a "justified" and "proportionate" response to Hamas attacks. (AP Photo/Jim Hollander, Pool)

By Associated Press August 7, 2014 1 min read

JERUSALEM (AP) – An Israeli Cabinet minister says Israel will respond if Hamas resumes fire after a temporary three-day truce expires in the Gaza Strip.

The statement, along with Hamas’ earlier threats, signals that both sides are digging in their positions as negotiations continue in Cairo on a lasting truce and reconstruction for the war-battered coastal territory.

Minister Gilad Erdan told Israel Radio on Thursday that if Hamas renews hostilities, the military will “resume operations.”

The three-day truce, which helped launch talks in Cairo on new arrangements for blockaded Gaza, expires on Friday morning. Both sides are under heavy international pressure to agree to an extension of the cease-fire to allow more time for negotiations.

Hamas demands that a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt be lifted. Israel wants Gaza to be demilitarized.