Rockets continued to be fired from the Gaza Strip despite Israel’s agreement with the Egyptian cease-fire proposal. It was reported that nearly 50 rockets entered Israeli territory. Hamas leaders haven’t responded to Israel’s acceptance of the proposal. It would stop a battle that’s been going for nearly two weeks. The agreement calls for Israeli and Palestinian negotiations to happen in Cairo within 48 hours to consider new terms.
Cairo-based Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzouk, posted a Twitter message as the rockets were flying, claiming that his group had “not issued an official position on the Egyptian initiative.”
Hamas’ military wing, the Izzedine al-Qasaam Brigades, took the responsibility of the rockets fired at Israeli cities through a Twitter post in Hebrew. It stated, “We will continue to bombard until our conditions are met.”
During this battle, 185 Palestinians and no Israelis have been killed. Tension has been escalating since June 12, when three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and killed in the West Bank. Israel blamed Hamas for it, and the kidnapping and killing of a 16-year-old Palestinian girl less than two weeks later by extremist Jews appeared to be a revenge attack.
The Egyptian proposal has garnered support from the United States, the Arab League and the Palestinian Authority. It aims to open the borders of Gaza and for commerce to resume once the area is safe on the ground.
