Islamic Jihad group links cease-fire with end to Israeli assassination policy

By Nour Abu Eisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group demanded on Thursday that Israel end its assassination policy in order to establish a cease-fire.

Speaking to Anadolu, the group's spokesman Dawood Shihab said no progress has yet been achieved on a cease-fire between the Palestinian groups in Gaza and Israel.

“The Egyptian side is continuing efforts with the Palestinian groups to reach a cease-fire in Gaza,” Shihab said.

He added that senior Islamic Jihad leader Mohammed Al-Hindi is set to arrive in Cairo to discuss the developments and stop Israeli "aggression on Gaza."

On Wednesday, a Palestinian source said that Egyptian efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza have stalled.

“The truce talks have stalled as factions insist on obligating Israel to halt its assassination policy,” the source told Anadolu on condition of anonymity because he was unauthorized to speak to the media.

At least 25 Palestinians were killed and 76 injured in the Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Three senior military commanders of the Islamic Jihad group, their wives, and children were among those killed in the attacks.

Palestinian factions fired a barrage of rockets Wednesday into Israel amid tensions following Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara