Exchanges of Hamas rockets and Israeli air-strikes continued as the United States and European Union pushed for a United Nations Security Council resolution to end the fighting.
Hamas and Israel renewed fire after Hamas rocket volleys broke a ceasefire Aug.19. On Thursday, Hamas launched more than 100 rockets at Israel, according to the Times of Israel, injuring one civilian. After a night without rockets, Hamas rocket fire resumed Friday, injuring one person in Be’ersheva.
Israeli airstrikes Thursday killed 29 people, according to Ha’aretz, in addition to three senior Hamas commanders killed overnight Wednesday. Sixty-seven Israelis and more than 2,000 Palestinians have died thus far in the conflict, which began in July.
Hamas also executed 11 people in Gaza Friday after convicting them of collaborating with Israel.
In the midst of the clashes, the U.S and EU are pushing the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution instituting a ceasefire. A draft document circulated among diplomats called for the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza, the re-opening of Gaza’s ports and border crossings, an end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza and a halt to all weapons sales and transfers into the coastal strip.
The document calls for an international force to monitor Gaza to ensure that Hamas does not rearm or build tunnels. The document also calls for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks based on Israel’s pre-1967 borders.
Israeli and Palestinian officials, according to the Times of Israel, said ceasefire talks in Cairo could resume. The indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian delegation broke down along with a string of temporary truces after the rocket fire Tuesday.
