'Hamas talking to Islamic Jihad in effort to halt rockets'
Damascus leadership believes escalation not in Palestinian interests; IDF spokesman says Hamas not firing rockets, but is still responsible.
By JPOST.COM STAFFIslamic Jihad terrorists in Gaza 311 (R)(photo credit: REUTERS/Mohammed Salem)Hamas has been holding talks with the Islamic Jihad over the weekend in an effort to convince the terror organization to stop firing rockets into Israel and resume the de facto truce that has been in place for two years, Egyptian daily Al-Ahram reported on Sunday.According to the report, Hamas leaders from Damascus told Egyptian officials that the group is not interested in an escalation with Israel at the moment, saying it does not believe it is in the interest of the Palestinians.RELATED:Gov't considers escalation in face of rocket fire from Gaza Man wounded in Beersheba attack dies of his wounds
Hamas, in talks with Islamic Jihad's armed wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, said that it wanted the crossings with Israel re-opened so that goods and commodities could enter Gaza during Ramadan, Al-Ahram said.Hamas's armed wing, the Izzadin al-Kassam Brigades, the report added, was not participating in the rocket fire that saw over 80 projectiles fired into Israel from the Strip over the weekend.Speaking with Israel Radio Sunday morning, an IDF spokesman said that while Hamas was not itself firing rockets, the IDF holds it responsible for all activity taking place in and emanating from the Gaza Strip.Click for full Jpost coverage
