Efforts for a ceasefire are ongoing in the Middle East. Despite Egypt’s attempts at mediation, mutual attacks continue. Two people were killed by the Israeli army in the West Bank.
Violence continues in Israel and the Palestinian Territories despite Egyptian efforts to mediate a ceasefire. After a comparatively quiet night, Israel’s army again flew airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, militant Palestinians fired rockets at Israel. In an effort to end the escalation of violence, according to Palestinian sources, Egypt had previously presented a new proposal for a ceasefire.
The morning air strikes hit uninhabited areas of the densely populated Gaza Strip, eyewitnesses said. Alarm sirens wailed in neighboring parts of Israel. The Palestinian Ministry of Health had just announced the deaths of two 19 and 32-year-old men during an Israeli army operation in a refugee camp in Nablus in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli army spoke of an “anti-terrorist operation” against militant Palestinians who had planned attacks on soldiers. The forces were shot at by armed attackers. The soldiers shot back with live ammunition and hit two “terrorists”. According to West Bank governing Fatah, the two men belonged to the Al-Aqsa Brigades, the movement’s armed wing.
New ceasefire proposal
In an effort to end the renewed violence in the Middle East, Egypt presented a new proposal for a ceasefire on Friday evening. The Palestinian side will examine it, and Egypt is also waiting for an answer from Israel, reports the AFP news agency, citing Palestinian circles.
Israeli television reported that an “improved Egyptian proposal” for a ceasefire had been submitted to the government. The US State Department reiterated the need to reach a ceasefire agreement to prevent further civilian casualties.
The leader of the pro-Iranian Lebanese Hezbollah militia, Hassan Nasrallah, said in a televised address that his movement was in touch with the Palestinian groups. She is ready to provide “any possible support within certain limits”. “But if at some point we have the responsibility to take one or more steps, we will not hesitate,” added Nasrallah.
Targeted killings by Israel
Israel’s air force says it has bombed more than 250 Islamic Jihad positions in the Gaza Strip since Tuesday. The army also specifically killed several high-ranking members of the group, which has close ties to Iran and is considered a terrorist organization in the US, Europe and Israel.
Since the start of the Israeli military offensive, 33 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, including six children. More than 100 were injured. According to Palestinian information, at least 17 of the dead were civilians. Israel’s army said four civilian casualties were killed by misguided jihadi missiles. This could not initially be verified independently.
The death of a prisoner had sparked renewed violence
The situation in the region has become extremely tense since the death of a senior Islamic Jihad official in Israeli custody. The 45-year-old prisoner Chader Adnan died in early May after a month-long hunger strike.
Islamic Jihad has a strong presence in the Gaza Strip. The group, classified by Israel, the EU and the US as a terrorist organization, has repeatedly used the Palestinian territory for rocket attacks on Israel.