Egyptian officials pressed Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza on Sunday to halt hostilities and stick to a cease-fire agreement that has been in effect since the war began in May.
Egypt’s efforts came a day after Hamas terrorists fired missiles into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of central Israel, prompting Israel to begin airstrikes on militant positions in Gaza early Sunday. There were no casulaities.
The Israeli military said it attacked “a massive production complex and military installations” in the Gaza Strip due to Saturday’s rocket fire.
“Whoever fires missiles against Israel is to blame,” Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said at the outset of the nation’s weekly Cabinet conference.
On Wednesday, Palestinian militants shot an Israeli contractor functioning along the border barrier. Israel responded with tank fire at militant standings in months, the first exchange of fire.
Egyptian officials called Hamas and the rest of the Palestinian militant groups in Gaza to stop their actions seen by Isreal as “inflammatory” and for Israel to rev diplomat with knowledge of the ongoing efforts, he added. The envoy spoke on anonymity because they were not registered or authorised to discuss the matter with the media.
According to the diplomat, “None of the party wants a full-blown war.” They need guarantees and steps on the ground.
Since the 11-day battle between Hamas and Israel in May, the cease-fire negotiated by Egypt and international mediators, has been weak but mainly held.
However, the militant group claims that Israel has taken no significant moves to remove the siege on Gaza alongside Egypt following the Islamic movement’s takeover of the coastal enclave in 2007.
Simultaneously, the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group has been threatened by military action taken against Israel if a hunger-stricken Palestinian detainee dies. Hisham Abu Hawash, an Islamic Jihad member, held by Isreal under administrative arrest, has staged a hunger strike for over 130 days.
Administrative detention, a controversial Israeli policy, allows suspects to be imprisoned without prosecution indefinitely. Isreal claims that the procedure is essential to keep dangerous detainees in jail without revealing vital intelligence that could expose sources.
Palestinians and human rights organisations have criticised the approach as a violation of due process.
