GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Egypt is taking new steps in the Gaza Strip in a bid to reduce the tension that has recently escalated between Israel and Hamas, after Palestinian groups resumed the launching of incendiary balloons toward southern Israel on Aug. 6 following a two-month hiatus.
Israel responded to the fires ravaging the fields of southern Israel by bombing numerous Hamas military sites in Gaza. It partially closed the Kerem Shalom crossing on Aug. 11 and prevented the entry of construction materials and fuel derivatives into the Gaza Strip. This led Gaza’s sole power plant to shut down on Aug. 18. Also, Palestinian fishermen were completely prevented from accessing the sea off the Gaza Strip on Aug. 16.
The escalation came after Hamas accused Israel of delaying the implementation of the truce understandings that were reached in October 2018. The understandings were aimed at easing the blockade and stipulated establishing two industrial zones east of Gaza City to accommodate tens of thousands of unemployed. Electricity and water projects were supposed to be implemented as part of the truce agreements, as well as projects aimed at increasing the volume of imports and exports to and from the Gaza Strip.
In this context, an Egyptian security delegation arrived in the Gaza Strip on Aug. 17, headed by Ahmed Abdel Khaleq, who is in charge of the Palestinian portfolio in Egypt’s General Intelligence Service. The delegation met for several hours with leaders of the Hamas movement in Gaza before leaving for Israel on the same day to convey the movement’s demands. It was set to return to Gaza on Aug. 18 with answers, but the visit was delayed to an unspecified date, as Israel rejected most of Hamas’ demands.
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