Palestinians have accepted an Egyptian plan for a new 72-hour ceasefire despite Israel keeping away from talks this weekend. It is hoped the truce with Israel would clear the way for a resumption of talks about a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. However, Israel walked away from discussions after militants resumed their rocket fire on southern Israel with the expiration of an earlier three-day truce.Scroll down for video. Smoke raises over Gaza City after an Israeli airstrike today Israeli soldiers stand next to a hole in the ground they suspect is connected to a tunnel, outside the Gaza Strip today
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Hoped a 72-hour truce with Israel could pave the way for talks
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Israel walked away from discussions after militants resumed rocket fire
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Today's decision was aimed at bringing the Israelis back to the negotiations
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The Egyptian-mediated talks are aimed at brokering a long-term truce
An @placeholder soldier directs a tank at a staging area near the border with the Gaza Strip