After understandings with Hamas, Israel pushes for comprehensive cease-fire

Israel and Hamas reached Aug. 31 understandings for de-escalating tensions. Qatari envoy to the region Mohammed al-Emadi mediated the talks, under the auspices of Egypt and the United Nations. The news about the agreement came first from Hamas Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar. Israel did not explicitly confirm the agreement, but tacitly acknowledged it by promising to reopen the Gaza crossing point for commercial goods and the fishing zone if calm was maintained.

Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said that following consultations with Defense Minister Benny Gantz, it was decided to reopen Sept. 1 the commercial Kerem Shalom crossing point into the Gaza Strip. Thus, goods and also fuel will be allowed to be transferred into Gaza. The COGAT office also announced that the Gaza fishing zone, which was limited to 8 nautical miles, would be increased again to 15 miles.

The COGAT office warned that the measures agreed upon depend on quiet being kept in the region. If Hamas will not keep to its commitments the easing measures would be revoked, according to the announcements. Later in the day, Israeli press reported that despite the understandings, sounds of explosive-laden balloons were detected near the southern city of Sderot.

While Hamas hurried to depict the temporary cease-fire as an achievement of the movement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) credited the latest understandings to the airstrikes carried out in the last three weeks by Israeli tanks, fighter jets, attack helicopters and other aircraft against some 100 targets belonging to Hamas. “Over the last weeks, Hamas launched rockets, explosive and arson balloons from the Gaza Strip at Israeli civilians. In addition, a number of violent riots were instigated along the Gaza Strip security fence. In response, the IDF struck approximately 100 military targets belonging to Hamas during 19 nights.”