Hamas’ spokesperson, Fawzi Barhoum, declared that Egypt has succeeded to broker a ceasefire between the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli occupation, after a night of intensive exchange of fire between Gaza and Israel.
Israel launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sent extra troops to the border on Monday after a surprise rocket attack from the Palestinian territory injured several Israelis near Tel Aviv.
Despite the ceasefire, shelling continued on Monday night.
Sirens sounded after the Israeli army said at least 30 rockets had been fired into Israel from Gaza. Nearly all of them were shot down or landed in open areas, the Israeli Defence Forces said. The Israeli forces struck targets across Gaza, including the offices of Hamas’ leadership, who went into hiding.
Israeli warplanes fired at least two missiles targeting a location to the west of Gaza city and another in the town of Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli warplanes are currently flying intensively in the atmosphere of the Gaza Strip, WAFA reported.
President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee said that the government is following-up with deep concern the latest developments which took place in the Gaza Strip regarding the latest escalation. “We commend the efforts paid by the Arab Republic of Egypt that is seeking to reach a truce, yet it has become clear that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is trying to use the situation to serve the upcoming elections and Netanyahu’s personal interest,” Abbas said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Israel will not tolerate this, I will not tolerate this. Israel is responding forcefully to this wanton aggression.”
“We will do whatever we must do to defend our people and defend our state,” Netanyahu added, cutting short his US trip to return home to deal with the situation.
Hamas’ leader Ismail Haniyeh said the Palestinian people “will not surrender” and that Hamas “will deter the enemy if it exceeds the red lines.”
“Israel, the occupying power, has tightened its draconian sea and land blockade of Gaza, after a rocket was fired,” Abbas said adding that “Netanyahu’s return from the US is intended to escalate the siege and aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza, and create a tense atmosphere in the region.”
