Egypt mediators enter Gaza following Israel’s intensified military strikes

Egyptian mediators have entered the Gaza Strip in an effort to reduce tensions and prevent a new cross-border conflict following Israeli regime’s increased aerial and artillery attacks.

The delegation from Egypt --which has long served as a mediator in Gaza—entered the impoverished Palestinian enclave on Monday at around midday local time.

Hamas said the Egyptian delegation headed straight for meetings with the Palestinian resistance movement's officials after entering the territory.

The visit comes as the Israeli military has intensified its attacks on the Gaza Strip, with its tanks pounding several positions in the besieged enclave.

The Israeli military claimed in a statement earlier on Monday that the attacks came in response to incendiary balloons sent from Gaza to the occupied territories on Sunday evening as well as protests along the fence separating the enclave from the occupied territories.

The Israeli regime every so often launches strikes against positions in the blockaded enclave, accusing resistance groups thereof launching attacks.

Flying fiery kites and balloons has become a new mode of protest by Gazans since March 2018, when the Tel Aviv regime began a crackdown against anti-occupation demonstrations near the fence separating Gaza from the Israeli-occupied territories, martyring and injuring many people.

Hamas vowed to step up its resistance against the Israeli military after two children were injured during nighttime Israeli strikes on Gaza on Friday.

Also on Sunday, Israel tightened its naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. It also banned fuel shipments from entering the Kerem Shalom crossing between the southern Gaza Strip and the occupied territories until further notice.

MG