By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israel army continues its defensive operations in the Gaza Strip, including attacks on Qassam rocket launching cells, while refraining from striking other militant targets, a senior army official was quoted by local daily Yedioth Ahronoth as saying on Monday.
Responding to recent reports about a truce reached between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) official explained that the army currently concentrates on eliminating Qassam cells that operate from the Gaza Strip, upon orders from the political echelon to limit operation scale.
Meanwhile, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said on Monday that no comprehensive ceasefire had been reached with Israel. Other Hamas officials said their leaders would talk to Egypt in the coming days to continue the efforts to work out a deal.
According to a report of local daily Ha’aretz, following a lull in Qassam fire, Israeli government recently ordered the IDF to exercise restraint in operations in Gaza.
A senior government official was quoted that Israel will not attack Gaza as long as Hamas does not fire at Israel. However, he stressed that there is no formal agreement with Hamas.
Despite the denials of both sides regarding a truce, Israeli aircraft operations over Gaza have dramatically reduced in recent days and strikes on militants targets have been suspended.
IDF ground operations have also been reduced, while routine operations along the Gaza border fence are set to carry on as usual and in accordance with security estimates.