Several fires broke out in the Eshkol region in the south of Israel June 16, apparently sparked by balloons carrying incendiary devices launched from the Gaza Strip. It was the second day in a row that such fires broke out. After the first day of fires, the Israeli army launched airstrikes against Hamas targets in Gaza. But last night, no strikes were carried out. Reportedly, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are now expecting for Gaza balloon attacks to calm down.

Hamas was reportedly surprised by the Israeli retaliation over the incendiary balloons, conveying to Israel a message via Egypt that they will not accept such a response. Israel reportedly answered that even if it did not retaliate last night over the balloons, it will under no circumstances accept that such attacks continue.

At the same time, Israeli press reports about messages conveyed by Israel’s new government, over its willingness to continue with efforts for an arrangement with Hamas. An Israeli delegation headed by the National Security Council is expected to arrive to Cairo already this week for talks with their Egyptian counterparts. The delegation will discuss a framework for an arrangement with Hamas and also the issue of the bodies of IDF soldiers and the two Israeli civilians held by the group, with the possibility of a prisoner exchange deal. The reports said gaps between the sides are still big, but there is willingness to advance.

Newly appointed head of the Knesset security ad foreign affairs committee Ram Ben-Barak said June 17, “Bringing in the Egyptians on board on this issue is the right move. In the [2014] Protective Edge Operation [in Gaza], it was the Qataris leading the arrangement [between Israel and Hamas], and that proved to be difficult.”