Israel launches airstrikes after Gaza rocket fire
21 Aug 2014 5:01 AM IST
The fighting occurred some eight hours before a temporary truce was set to expire. Egypt had persuaded Israel and Egypt to extend the truce by 24 hours to give more times for the negotiations.
While there were no injuries reported in Israel or Gaza, it remained unclear whether the talks in Egypt would continue.
‘This rocket attack on Beersheba is a grave and direction violation of the cease-fire,’ Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said. He refused to say whether Israel would halt the negotiations, but Israel has repeatedly said it will only negotiate if there is a ‘total and complete’ cease-fire.
The Israeli military said Gaza militants fired three rockets into Israel that landed in open areas near the southern city of Beersheba. Hamas police officials said seven Israeli airstrikes targeted open areas.
Within minutes, it said it carried out a series of airstrikes. It accused militants of violating the cease-fire and said it maintains ‘both defence and striking capabilities in order to address the renewed aggression.’
The rocket fire broke a nearly weeklong lull that has held during the Egyptian-mediated negotiations.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility. But shortly before the launch, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum hinted of more rocket fire, saying: ‘If Netanyahu doesn’t understand ... the language of politics in Cairo, we know how to make him understand.’
The effect the violence will have on the negotiations in Cairo was not immediately clear. Earlier on Tuesday, Palestinian and Israeli negotiators had resumed their indirect talks after agreeing to the 24-hour extension.
The negotiations are aimed at working out a long-term arrangement between Israel and Hamas following weeks of fighting that has killed some 2,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, and left tens of thousands more homeless.
Sixty-seven Israelis have died, all but three of them soldiers.
Hamas is seeking an end to a seven-year Israeli-Egypt blockade that has ravaged Gaza’s economy. Israel wants Hamas to disarm.
An Egyptian compromise proposal calls for easing the blockade, but not lifting it.
And while Hamas would not be required to give up its arsenal, the Egyptian plan would give Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas, whose forces were ousted by Hamas in 2007, a foothold back in Gaza, running border crossings and overseeing internationally-backed reconstruction.
In an apparent attempt to pressure Hamas, Egypt said early on Monday it would co-host an international fundraising conference for Gaza -- but only if a deal is reached first.
While there were no injuries reported in Israel or Gaza, it remained unclear whether the talks in Egypt would continue.
‘This rocket attack on Beersheba is a grave and direction violation of the cease-fire,’ Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said. He refused to say whether Israel would halt the negotiations, but Israel has repeatedly said it will only negotiate if there is a ‘total and complete’ cease-fire.
The Israeli military said Gaza militants fired three rockets into Israel that landed in open areas near the southern city of Beersheba. Hamas police officials said seven Israeli airstrikes targeted open areas.
Within minutes, it said it carried out a series of airstrikes. It accused militants of violating the cease-fire and said it maintains ‘both defence and striking capabilities in order to address the renewed aggression.’
The rocket fire broke a nearly weeklong lull that has held during the Egyptian-mediated negotiations.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility. But shortly before the launch, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum hinted of more rocket fire, saying: ‘If Netanyahu doesn’t understand ... the language of politics in Cairo, we know how to make him understand.’
The effect the violence will have on the negotiations in Cairo was not immediately clear. Earlier on Tuesday, Palestinian and Israeli negotiators had resumed their indirect talks after agreeing to the 24-hour extension.
The negotiations are aimed at working out a long-term arrangement between Israel and Hamas following weeks of fighting that has killed some 2,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, and left tens of thousands more homeless.
Sixty-seven Israelis have died, all but three of them soldiers.
Hamas is seeking an end to a seven-year Israeli-Egypt blockade that has ravaged Gaza’s economy. Israel wants Hamas to disarm.
An Egyptian compromise proposal calls for easing the blockade, but not lifting it.
And while Hamas would not be required to give up its arsenal, the Egyptian plan would give Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas, whose forces were ousted by Hamas in 2007, a foothold back in Gaza, running border crossings and overseeing internationally-backed reconstruction.
In an apparent attempt to pressure Hamas, Egypt said early on Monday it would co-host an international fundraising conference for Gaza -- but only if a deal is reached first.
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