Egypt on Tuesday expressed concern about a prolonged conflict between Hamas and Israel, saying that so far, Jerusalem has rejected mediation efforts.
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Cairo traditionally assumes the role of mediator between the Jewish state and the terrorist group controlling the Gaza Strip.
Recent tensions in Jerusalem are threatening to plunge the area into a full-blown conflict. Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists have fired over 250 rockets at Israel since Monday night, threatening further escalation unless Israel ceases so-called "violations" in east Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The IDF has mounted a series of airstrikes on Gaza, destroying 130 terrorist targets and killing 15 terrorists so far. On noon Tuesday, Defense Minister Benny Gantz approved military plans for additional strikes, as well as mobilizing 5,000 reservists.
The military campaign has been officially dubbed Operation Guardian of the Walls.
A senior Egyptian intelligence official told Israel Hayom Tuesday that "the last time Israel didn't respond to mediation attempts with Hamas was in 2014. We hope we don't see prolonged hostilities."
The summer of 2014 saw Israel launch Operation Protective Edge – a 50-day military campaign meant to eliminate Hamas rocket fire on Israel.
Earlier Tuesday, another Egyptian intelligence source said that mediation efforts and attempts to de-escalate the situation vis-à-vis Gaza were suspended over Israel's disinterest in the process at this time.
"Hamas and the armed factions in Gaza failed to properly assess Israel's response [to Monday's rocket fire on Jerusalem] and now Hamas has its back against the wall," he said.
"We are very concerned about the possibility that the escalation in Gaza will lead to a wide-scale military confrontation that will claim many lives," he said.
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