Egypt appeals for calm amid the spike of violence between Israel and Gaza

Smoke and fireball rises following an airstrike in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, early on January 2, 2022. (SAID KHATIB / AFP)

Egyptian officials pressed Israel and Gaza-based terror groups on Sunday to halt hostilities and stick to a ceasefire in place since May's most recent war.

Cairo officials urged Hamas and other parties in Gaza to halt measures deemed "provocative" by Israel and urged Israel to expedite agreements reached as part of the ceasefire, an Egyptian diplomat familiar with the continuing talks said.

The diplomat requested anonymity since they were not authorized to speak with the media about the situation.

"Neither side desires an all-out war," the diplomat explained. "All they want are assurances and concrete steps."

The ceasefire, mediated by Egypt and other mediators, has been tenuous but has mainly held since Hamas and Israel fought an 11-day conflict in May.

In a rare event late Sunday, Gazan terrorists shot shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles over the Strip during Israeli Defense Forces airstrikes. According to the military, the missiles missed their target and caused no injuries or damage.

Israeli helicopters and fighter jets carried out the attacks in response to two rockets fired from Gaza on Saturday morning that fell off the coast of central Israel. According to video footage, one exploded in the sea off the shore of Jaffa, near Tel Aviv, while the second landed off the coast of Palmachim, south of the city of Rishon Lezion.

Hamas has stated that the rockets were not launched deliberately but were caused by adverse weather. Israeli military officials have previously stated that due to Hamas's rockets' substandard electrical work, the projectiles could be set off prematurely by meteorological circumstances, most notably lightning strikes.

At the start of Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated that Israel is not interested in such justifications.

"All of Hamas's stories about thunder and lightning, which we hear year after year, have lost their relevance," Bennett explained. "Anyone who targets the State of Israel with rockets must accept responsibility."

According to the Kan public television, Israeli officials believe the missile firing was carried out by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group, not Gaza's rulers, Hamas. Hamas communicated to Israel via Egyptian mediators that it was not responsible for the attack, according to the network.

The IDF stated that their predawn attacks on Sunday morning targeted "a Hamas terror group rocket production facility." According to the military, IDF tanks also hit outposts in northern Gaza. Israeli airplanes targeted a Hamas outpost west of Khan Younis in the Strip's southern sector, according to Hamas TV.

Along with its military operations, Israel notified Egypt, acting as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, that the occurrence was unacceptable, even if the missiles were launched accidentally.

"Hamas is accountable for and bears the consequences of all activity occurring in and emanating from the Gaza Strip," the IDF stated early Sunday morning in a statement.

According to Al-Mayadeen TV in Beirut, citing unnamed sources, the Hamas terror group notified Egyptian mediators that if Israel bombs Gaza, there will be retaliation. Egypt reportedly pleaded with Israel not to respond to the rocket launch in any way.

Publish : 2022-01-02 17:38:00

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