Israeli incursions sinking hopes of truce

Israel's military attacks are thwarting Egyptian efforts at brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian military factions, an Islamic Jihad leader asserted on Saturday.

"The Israeli incursions and invasions aimed at foiling the Egyptian efforts to reach the calm in the region to result in the opening of the crossing and breaking the blockade," Islamic Jihad leader Khaled Al-Batsh told Ma'an.

"The occupation forces are continuing their aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank aimed to exert pressure on the Palestinian people and its resistance factions," he added.

The most recent Israeli incursion on Saturday morning in the Gaza Strip left a 14-year-old girl dead and seven others wounded after Israeli forces caused a shootout while attempting to arrest a Hamas leader.

"The resistance operations initiated by the Al-Quds Brigades [Islamic Jihad's armed wing] to break the siege and the last operation which was killing an Israeli colonel and his bodyguard is an evidence of the strength and solidity of the Palestinian people and a clear message that they will not surrender to the occupation pressure and practices," Al-Batsh said.