Islamic Jihad undermines shaky Gaza cease-fire with rocket barrage

Week in Review

Members of a Palestinian family sit around a fire to warm themselves at the site of their destroyed house, on a rainy day in the southern Gaza Strip January 10, 2020. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC24DE9KGKN8 — Members of a Palestinian family sit around a fire to warm themselves at the site of their destroyed house, on a rainy day in the southern Gaza Strip, Jan. 10, 2020. — REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Rocket attacks from Gaza shattered a fragile truce in the region on Jan. 15, prompting retaliatory strikes by the Israeli air force.

No matter that the rocket attacks may have been launched by "rogue Islamic Jihad militants," as Shlomi Eldar reports. Israel is holding Hamas accountable either for having a direct role in the attacks or just for letting them happen.

Hamas is playing with fire and risking its ties with Egypt, perhaps at the bidding of Iran in the wake of the US killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani on Jan. 3.

Hamas must also contend with the more confrontational and aggressive tactics of Islamic Jihad, which has even closer ties to Iran and relishes its role as a spoiler.

Islamic Jihad undermines shaky Gaza cease-fire with rocket barrage

Israel, Egypt holding Hamas accountable for all attacks from Gaza; the wisdom of Sultan Qaboos.

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