Israeli military strikes Gaza in response to rocket fire
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E-mail Xinhua, August 20, 2014
The Israeli military struck targets in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday afternoon after three rockets were launched from the strip into southern Israel, breaching the current 24-hour cease-fire agreement, the army said in a statement.
"Following renewed rocket attacks at Israel, amidst the cease- fire, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is currently targeting terror sites across the Gaza Strip," the IDF Spokesperson Unit said in a statement.
On Tuesday afternoon, three rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip toward southern Israel, exploding in open territories near the southern Israeli city of Be'er Sheva, Israeli Radio reported, adding that no injuries or damages were reported.
In response, Israeli war jets carried out two successive airstrikes on northern and central Gaza Strip, security officials in Gaza said, adding that two huge explosions were heard, but no injuries were reported.
The renewal of fighting between the two sides came as Egypt has been hosting indirect talks between Israel and a Palestinian delegation representing the Islamic and national factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
On Monday night, Israeli and Palestinian delegates in Cairo agreed to extend the prior 120-hour cease-fire by another 24 hours until midnight Tuesday (2100 GMT), hoping to reach an initial, restricted agreement by the end of that time.
After the rocket fire was renewed just several hours before the expiry, the Israeli delegation was instructed to leave Cairo and head back to Israel immediately, the Walla! News website reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel would respond forcefully if the rocket fire would be renewed.
There have been several temporary truces held in the past two weeks, some of which were breached, that were repeatedly extended, as both sides discuss their demands in order to achieve a deal that would end the offensive, which started on July 8 and claimed the lives of more than 2,000 Palestinians and 67 Israelis.
Israel wants to demilitarize the Gaza Strip and disarm Hamas, which the organization vehemently rejects. Hamas wants to build an airport and seaport in Gaza and have Israel ease the blockade on the strip and open the passages into and out of the enclave, as well as the release of 56 Hamas members arrested in the West Bank in June.
Officials and reports coming from Cairo saying that reaching a permanent cease-fire between the two sides is till impossible due to deep differences on many different issues and points in the talks.
Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in an emailed press statement that "Israel's postponement and loosing the determination to reach a final agreement is the main reason for the stalemate in the negotiations in Cairo."
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said on Monday afternoon that Operation Protective Edge is "not yet over" and Israel is willing to maintain the calm or respond to any attempt to escalate the security situation, according to the developments.
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