Palestinian factions slam rocket fire into Israel

Palestinian resistance factions said rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into Israel undermines Egyptian efforts to achieve inter-Palestinian reconciliation and truce with Israel.

In a statement on Wednesday, the factions said they “reject all irresponsible attempts that seek to sabotage the [Egyptian] effort.”

An Egyptian security delegation arrived in Gaza on Tuesday for talks with Hamas officials regarding inter-Palestinian reconciliation and truce with Israel.

In their statement, the Palestinian factions affirmed their readiness to “confront all Israeli aggression”.

Early Wednesday, the Israeli army carried out a series of airstrikes in Gaza in response to rocket fire, killing one man and injuring three people, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman also announced on Wednesday that all crossings into Gaza were being shut and the fishing zone around the Palestinian territory was being limited.

Since March, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred and thousands more injured by Israeli army fire in anti-occupation protests along Gaza border.

Demonstrators demand an end to Israel’s 12-year Gaza blockade and the right to return to their homes in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.