Gaza gunmen fire mortars (archives)
Photo: AFP
5 mortars hit Negev region; no injuries
Despite Hamas' reported agreement between Gaza factions to halt attacks on Israel, five shells land in Negev region; no injuries, damage reported. Eshkol Council head: Maybe they were only referring to Qassams
Five mortars were fired by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza Thursday evening towards the Eshkol Regional Council in Israel's Negev area. The shells landed in open areas. There were no reports of injury or damage.
Eshkol Regional Council head Haim Yalin said the salvo proves Hamas' recent announcement that armed groups in Gaza have agreed to halt attacks on Israel should not be taken seriously.
"It is very possible that Hamas was only referring to Qassams, not mortars. Different groups are operating in Gaza, and Hamas may not be able to contain all of them. We knew the attacks wouldn't stop despite Hamas' declaration," he said.
According to Yalin, the sporadic attacks on the Negev are disrupting daily life in the region. "This is how it all began the last time around. We are continuing to strengthen the communities economically, but at the same time we are preparing for the next round of fighting," he said.
PFLP gumen during mortar drill in Gaza on Saturday (Photo: AFP)
On Monday a Qassam rocket fired from Gaza landed near a kibbutz in the Negev. No one was injured in the attack.
On Saturday Hamas Interior Minister Fathi Hamad announced during a press conference that his ministry finalized an agreement with Palestinian factions in the Strip that would put an end to rocket fire on Israel.
According to the announced deal, rocket fire will only be allowed in retaliation for Israeli military offensives within the Strip, Hamad said.
"We don't want to curb the resistance and are not preventing the acts of the resistance," the Hamas minister said. "However, we want every move to be undertaken through agreement between the organizations, especially after the last war and the need to grant residents some breathing space and enable the Strip's reconstruction."
Ilana Curiel contributed to the report
