Israel, Hamas reach truce after incendiary balloons spread fire in southern Israel
Israel and Hamas—the terrorist entity that runs the Gaza Strip—reached a truce on Thursday night after the latter launched incendiary balloons into southern Israel earlier that day.
An Israeli firefighter works to extinguish a blaze caused by an incendiary device launched from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel on June 27, 2019. Credit: Israel Fire and Rescue Services
The agreement, confirmed by Israeli security sources after being first reported by Palestinian media, was apparently brokered by officials from the United Nations and Egypt.
The balloons caused at least 30 fires, including 17 substantial ones, in southern Israel, according to estimates by Israeli authorities.
As part of the truce, Israel agreed to reopen the Gaza fishing zone up to 15 miles, in addition to returning confiscated boats.
For its part, Hamas agreed to curb the violent protests along the Gaza-Israel border.
“Fuel delivery to Gaza’s power plant also resumed, with Gaza’s electricity company reporting four trucks loaded with [more than 40,154 gallons] of Qatari fuel entered the coastal enclave,” reported i24 News.
The truce was attacked by Israeli politicians.
“Hamas controls both sides of the fence,” said Blue and White Party co-leader Yair Lapid.
“The routine of rockets, fires and fake agreements with Hamas is a disgrace,” tweeted Blue and White member Yoaz Hendel.
JNS
