The Israel Security Cabinet decided late Saturday night to accept a request of the United Nations and extend the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire despite Hamas’ rocket afire and mortar shelling of Israelis.
The ceasefire by Israel will not affect IDF search and destroy missions against tunnels built by Hamas terrorists to use both to attack Israel and as escape paths.
Soldiers reported that aerial photos do not show large-scale retreats by Hamas terrorists after soldiers take over houses used for launching rockets, indicating that many of the terrorists have fled through underground tunnels.
Hamas resumed attacks on Israel after the end of a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire at 8 p.m. Saturday. Hamas refused to extend the ceasefire, but Israel continued it for four hours until the Cabinet extended it for another 24 hours until midnight Sunday.
Mortar shelling of Gaza Belt communities left one person seriously wounded Saturday night. The Iron Done system intercepted a missile north of Ashkelon, and siren wounded as far north as the Rehovot, in the southern part of metropolitan Tel Aviv.
Hamas attacked Israel with at least one rocket and seven mortar shells on Gaza Belt communities within one hour after Israel announced it was extending the 12-hour humanization ceasefire.
Hamas rejected the ceasefire, stating “No agreement to extending the calm for an additional four hours.”
The the government on Friday rejected conditions of a ceasefire proposed by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that would hinder the IDF’s activities to protect Israel.
Ministers reportedly are furious at Kerry for suggesting a ceasefire that would leave Hamas in the driver’s seat.
The IDF reported seven more deaths of Israel soldiers in the past 24 hours, bringing to 42 the number of Israeli troops who have fallen in the Protective Edge war on terror.