Gaza’s ruling Hamas terrorist organization says it will continue with negotiations in Cairo over a permanent cease-fire with Israel.
The news follows the news that two Hamas terrorists were killed in a shootout with IDF soldiers during an attempt to arrest them late Monday night in Hebron.
Amar Abu Aisha and Marwan Kawasmeh were killed after they opened fire when the soldiers who tried to take them into custody. The two were accused of abducting and murdering three Israeli teens – Eyal Yifrach, Naftali Frenkel and Gilad Sha’ary – as they hitchhiked home from yeshiva for the Sabbath on June 12, 2014, in Gush Etzion.
“We condemn the assassination of Amar Abu Aisha and Marwan Kawasmeh, and view it as an Israeli attempt to backtrack from a truce agreement,” said Izzat al-Risheq, a senior Hamas official living abroad. A second Hamas leader confirmed the Palestinian Authority unity government delegation had decided to proceed with the Cairo talks. Funerals for the two are to be held sometime Tuesday following afternoon prayers, according to media reports.
Israel’s delegation reportedly arrived in Cairo early on Tuesday. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s spokespereson Mark Regev declined to confirm or deny the report.
