Renewed violence over Gaza despite ceasefire moves gaining momentum
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Jeffrey Heller
Reuters
GAZA (Reuters) -Diplomatic moves towards a ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict gathered pace on Thursday after U.S. President Joe Biden called for a de-escalation, but Israel kept up its bombardment of Gaza and Hamas rocket fire resumed after a pause.
A senior official in the Hamas militant group predicted a ceasefire within days. An Israeli minister said Israel would halt its offensive only when it had achieved its goals.
Rocket attacks on Israel stopped for eight hours on Thursday - the 11th day of hostilities - before resuming against communities near the Israel-Gaza border.
Senior Hamas official thinks ceasefire efforts with Israel will succeed
By
Thursday May 20, 2021
Ceasefire agreement may be reached in a day or two, says Hamas official.
Israel has killed nearly 250 people since May 10 and injured over 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
Hamas official says ceasefire will be on the basis of mutual agreement .
A senior Hamas official has told international media that ceasefire efforts between Israel and the Palestinian organisation will succeed in a day or two.
Rocket fire into Israel died down overnight, a lull that stretched into Thursday morning. Israel was launching new air strikes in Gaza after daybreak, but, Israeli media said, at a slower pace than in past days.
A Hamas
political official is optimistic that a ceasefire with Israel could be reached
within a day or two on the basis of mutual agreement .
Pressure for
a ceasefire is mounting, with US President Joe Biden urging Israel PM Benjamin
Netanyahu to seek a significant de-escalation .
The US,
however, said it would not support a French push for a resolution in the
15-member UN Security Council.
GAZA – A
senior Hamas official predicted a ceasefire within days in the Israel-Gaza
conflict, after US President Joe Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu to seek a de-escalation in the fighting.
Rocket fire
Any ceasefire is unlikely to address the fundamental issues in the conflict
Reuters
May 20, 2021
Palestine protestors throw stones during an anti-Israel protest over cross-border violence between Palestinians in Gaza and the Israeli military, near Hawara checkpoint near Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, May 18, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS
GAZA:
Diplomatic moves towards a ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict gathered pace on Thursday after U.S. President Joe Biden called for a de-escalation, but Israel kept up its bombardment of Gaza and Hamas rocket fire resumed after a pause.
A senior official in the Hamas militant group predicted a ceasefire within days. An Israeli minister said Israel would halt its offensive only when it had achieved its goals.
Hamas official predicts ceasefire soon
Palestinians look at destruction caused by Israeli air strikes that killed ten members of Abu Hatab Hadidi family in Gaza City, Saturday, May 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Reuters
Reuters
A senior Hamas official predicted a ceasefire within days after U.S. President Joe Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seek a de-escalation .
Rocket fire into Israel died down overnight, a lull that stretched into Thursday morning. Israel was launching new air strikes in Gaza after daybreak, but, Israeli media said, at a slower pace than in past days.
An Egyptian security source said the sides had agreed in principle to a ceasefire after help from mediators but details were still being negotiated in secret.