Amid the backdrop of tensions between Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza and mutual recriminations, the leaders of the two terrorist organizations are trying to project an image of unity and rapprochement.
The leader of Hamas' political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, spoke on the phone with PIJ Secretary-General Ziad al-Nakhalah and agreed with him to "deepen civilian and military cooperation between the two organizations."
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Haniyeh also visited the bereavement tent for relatives of Bahaa Abu al-Atta, the PIJ commander assassinated by Israel in an airstrike in Gaza last week that set of a round of fighting that saw hundreds of rocket fired at Israel from Gaza.
Following IDF airstrikes in Gaza in response to Hamas firing two rockets at Beersheba over the weekend, in an apparent act of solidarity with PIJ, Haniyeh said: "This round of fighting is over, but the war is not. Our victory in the latest round wasn't determined by the number of rockets launched, but by the paralysis of Israel during the escalation."
Also on Sunday, PIJ leader Khaled Al-Batsh warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to violate the ceasefire agreement between the sides.
"We caution against any attempt by Netanyahu to maneuver and ignore the ceasefire agreement mediated by Egypt," he said.
Media outlets in Gaza, meanwhile, reported that during the recent fighting 500 homes were damaged in Israeli airstrikes and 30 were destroyed entirely, and that the direct impact of the strikes on Gaza's economy amounted to some $3.1 million.
In Jerusalem, Netanyahu met with the families of fallen IDF soldiers Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul and Lt. Hadar Goldin – who were killed in Gaza in 2014 and whose remains are being held by Hamas. The prime minister updated the families about the efforts being made to return them home and recent developments.
At the request of the families, Netanyahu reiterated his promise that "there won't be an arrangement with Gaza without the return of soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin."
