Israeli war planes bombed northern Gaza on Friday morning, killing two, as Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil was paying a visit, Palestinian security sources and medics told AFP.
“The occupation’s planes bombed a group of citizens in the Nazila area” in northern Gaza, the source said, shortly after Israel accused Hamas of failing to observe a ceasefire during the Egyptian premier’s visit.
Kandil entered Gaza through Egypt’s Rafah crossing and was greeted by Gaza officials. Yousef Rizqa, an adviser to the Gaza premier, told assembled reporters the visit was highly significant during the bombardment of Gaza, and would “send an important message to Israel,” Ma’an reported.
Israel has said it will suspend all military action during Kandil’s three-hour visit so long as Gaza militant groups also halt fire.
Kandil told reporters he will meet Gaza premier Ismail Haniyeh to discuss several issues, including the situation of civilians in Gaza.
During the three-hour tour, Kandil will visit Gaza’s main hospital al-Shifa, and offer condolences to the family of Hamas commander Ahmad al-Jaabari who is no longer walking among us.
Israel’s targeted killing of al-Jaabari on Wednesday resulted in more than 300 rockets fired into its civilian population centers, killing 3 and injuring 70. Israel proceeded with an all out air attack, target-killing 19 additional senior terrorists, and destroying a large arsenal of various-range rockets of the hamas and the Islamic Jihad.
More than 20 rockets have already landed in Israel’s southern region on Friday morning, with no reports of injuries.