Israel accepts Egyptian proposal for ceasefire, Hamas rejects

Israel this morning accepted the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire. Five hours later, PM Netanyahu said: „Hamas’s rejection of the cease fire gives Israel full legitimacy to expand the operation to protect our people.”

The Security Cabinet, this morning (Tuesday, 15 July 2014), decided to accept the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire starting at 09:00 today.

PM Netanyahu said: „If Hamas rejects the Egyptian proposal, and the rocket fire from Gaza does not cease, and that appears to be the case now, we are prepared to continue and intensify our operation to protect our people. For this we have kept full support from the responsible members of the international community.”

IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner: “In according with the government directives, the IDF now holds fire. We remain alert and preserve high preparedness levels, both defensive and offensive. If the Hamas terror organization will fire at Israel, we shall respond.”

Five hours later, following the continuation of rocket fire from Gaza, PM Netanyahu said: „Hamas’s rejection of the cease fire gives Israel full legitimacy to expand the operation to protect our people.”

At 3pm the IDF Spokesperson announced: “After six hours of unilateral attacks by Hamas, the IDF has resumed operational activity in the Gaza Strip. Since 9am Tuesday, about 50 rockets were fired at Israel.”

Earlier, at the start of his meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Prime Minister Netanyahu said:

Since the start of Operation Protective Edge, at least 1,081 rockets have been launched at Israel. 845 of those rockets hit Israel, and approximately 191 rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. Hamas claimed responsibility for most of the rockets fired, including those fired at the coastal plain south of Haifa, Dimona, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.