以色列和哈马斯星期四继续在开罗举行直接谈判，此时离加沙地带72小时停火期满还有不到一天时间。
双方之间看来存在很大分歧，但曾表示愿意延长人道停火。此次停火使持续四周的战斗告一段落。
以色列官员曾经表示愿意单方面延长停火，但哈马斯代表否认双方就此达成任何协议。
美国总统奥巴马星期四在华盛顿举行的非洲首脑会议上发表演讲时说，他支持埃及斡旋的谈判，并表示找到一个更持久地解决问题的途径很重要。
奥巴马重申，以色列有权保护本国免遭哈马斯火箭弹及越界地道袭击。他还表示自己不同情哈马斯。美国和以色列将哈马斯视为恐怖主义组织。
哈马斯寻求结束以色列和埃及对加沙地带的长期封锁。封锁导致广泛的失业，加沙地带大多数居民不得不依赖救济食品，而且他们不得离开加沙地带。
以色列说，除非哈马斯保证解除武装和不输入武器，否则以色列就不会放松对加沙地带的封锁。
Israel and Hamas continue indirect talks in Cairo on Thursday, with less than a day remaining before the expiration of a 72-hour cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
Both sides appeared to be far apart on the issues, but have suggested they are willing to extend the humanitarian truce, which ended four weeks of fighting.
Israeli officials have said they are willing to extend the cease-fire unilaterally, but Hamas representatives have denied that any agreement is in place.
Speaking Wednesday at a summit of African leaders in Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama threw his support behind the Egypt-brokered talks, saying it is important to find a more sustainable solution.
Mr. Obama repeated his position that Israel has a right to defend itself from Hamas rockets and cross-border tunnels. He also said he has "no sympathy" for Hamas, which the U.S. and Israel regard as a terror group.
Hamas is seeking an end to a longstanding Israeli and Egyptian blockade that has led to widespread unemployment, forced a majority of Gazans to rely on food aid, and kept them from traveling outside the enclave.
Israel says it will not loosen its restrictions on Gaza unless it receives assurances that Hamas is disarmed and unable to import weapons.
