TEL AVIV – Egypt warned Hamas that Israel would launch a war “in two hours” if the terror group responded to IDF strikes in Gaza undertaken in retaliation for the killing of an IDF soldier by Palestinian snipers, Israel’s Channel 10 reported Saturday.
Egypt further said it would impose sanctions on Hamas if it did not cease sending incendiary devices over the border into Israel.
Hamas has demanded in return that Israel ease restrictions on the transfer of goods into Gaza and called on Egypt to keep the Rafah border crossing open. The terror group also asked Egypt to pressure Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas into paying the salaries of PA employees in Gaza, the report said.
Hamas announced a ceasefire late Friday night after a day of heavy fighting that saw IDF strikes on more than 60 Hamas terror targets all over Gaza, a reprisal for the killing of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian snipers.
The death of IDF Sgt. Aviv Levi, 21, from Petah Tikva marked the first Israeli killed by Hamas since the 2014 war.
Four Palestinians were killed in the onslaught, three of whom Hamas said were its fighters.
“The attack delivered a severe blow to Hamas’ training array, command and control abilities, weaponry, aerial defense and logistic capabilities along with additional military infrastructure,” the IDF said.
Egypt warned Hamas that Israel would launch a war “in two hours” if the terror group responded to IDF strikes, Channel 10 reported. The warning resulted in Hamas announcing a ceasefire Friday night.
The weekend saw fewer kite attacks than in previous weeks.
Nevertheless, Hamas sources denied reports by Israeli officials that they have pledged to stop the incendiary terror, Army Radio reported.