Egypt and Israel in talks to consolidate Gaza conflict truce

Israeli foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi, right, meets with his Egyptian counterpart (not shown) during talks to shore up the truce between Israel and Hamas in Cairo (Nariman El-Mofty/AP)

Egypt and Israel are holding high-level talks in both countries on Sunday to shore up a fragile truce between Israel and the Hamas militant group, and rebuild the Gaza Strip after a punishing 11-day war that left much of the seaside enclave in ruins.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry received his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, in Cairo on Sunday as part of Egypt’s efforts to revive the Mideast peace process and to “build on the ceasefire in Gaza,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.