Gaza, Aug 27 (IANS) The Islamic Hamas movement, which rules the Gaza Strip, has insisted on the complete lifting of the Israeli blockade imposed on the coastal enclave since 2007.
In a statement marking six years of the end of the last large-scale Israeli offensive waged on the Gaza Strip in 2014, Hamas said on Wednesday that it wouldn’t let the blockade to remain forever, reports Xinhua news agency.
The tension between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has been mounting for almost two weeks due to the launch of incendiary balloons into southern Israel that caused large fires and immense damage.
In response, Israel has been carrying out daily airstrikes on Hamas’ military facilities and had tightened its blockade by banning the shipment of fuel, construction materials, and other products except for food and medicines.
On Monday night, the Qatari Ambassador Mohammed Al-Emadi arrived in the Gaza Strip to defuse the ongoing tension and mediate a deal between Hamas and Israel.
Al-Emadi met Hamas’ chief in Gaza Yahya Sinwar to discuss ending tension and reaching an agreement.
The Israeli Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the meeting between the two officials had ended without reaching any tangible results on the ground.
However, Hamas vowed in the press statement “to continue jihad (Holy War), military preparations, steadfastness, rejecting all Israeli and American plans and deals aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause”.
–IANS
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