Gaza militants say they won't turn blind eye on latest Israeli strikes
Report in a Palestinian news site quotes a military commander in the enclave, who claims the factions find it unacceptable that Israel has frozen all talks on potential long-term ceasefire arrangement and Gaza 'won't be held prisoner to Israeli elections'
Over the weekend, an exchange of blows between Israel and Hamas broke a monthlong lull in violence on the volatile Gaza border. Palestinian militants fired a barrage of rockets into Israeli communities bordering the enclave on Friday evening, with a house in the town of Sderot suffering a direct hit. Israeli military retaliated early Saturday morning with a series of airstrikes on militant sites, resulting in the death of Ahmed al-Shehri, 27, who died from shrapnel injuries.
Nael Abu Odeh, a military commander in the Strip, claims the terror groups conveyed to the Egyptian delegation mediating a long-term ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hamas, that it's unacceptable that Israel put the talks between the two sides on hold due to not having a steady government.
According to the report, Israel said it indents to continue with the long-term ceasefire negotiations only after a new government coalition is formed, but “in Gaza it was made clear to them we would not be held prisoners to Israeli elections.
Although it was not immediately clear whether the Palestinian killed in IDF attack belonged to Hamas' military wing, the terror group also issued a statement on Saturday, threatening to respond to "Israel's crimes and aggression against our people and their courageous resistance."
"It is a dangerous escalation that violates the rights of innocent civilians," said the terror group. "Israel will bear the consequences of its actions."
Associated Press contributed to this report
