Hamas has asked Islamic Jihad operatives to stop firing rockets at Israel, Palestinian sources told Ynet on Thursday. Five rockets were fired on the western Negev from Gaza, following an IDF aerial strike that killed three Palestinian terrorists near Kissufim.
According to reports, Hamas is trying to convince the Islamic Jihad to cease rocket fire, on the grounds that doing so while ceasefire negotiations are in progress gives Israel an excuse to escalate military operations and undermine the relative quiet of the past several days.
Hamas sources said they viewed the Islamic Jihad's rocket fire as a legitimate response to the deaths of its operatives and is merely asking them to make do with the rockets launched so far.
Palestinian sources went so far as to suggest that although Hamas' official stance states that rocket fire towards Israel is legitimate while the crossings are closed, the group was displeased with Islamic Jihad's rocket fire.
The Palestinian sources added that, at this point, Hamas forces are not restraining rocket fire by force but they may do so in the future. The sources suggested that it is important for Hamas to show it has control of Gaza, particularly now that its representatives are in Cairo for talks.
Hamas is interested in preventing any deterioration of the security situation at a time when important negotiations are ongoing, the sources said. They also want to prevented additional Israeli military offensives that might weaken the group or its resources.
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