Algimeiner reports that Hamas has violated its ceasefire, killed two Israeli soldiers and kidnapped an Israeli soldier. Jewish human rights group the Simon Wiesenthal Center called on US Secretary of State Kerry to return immediately to the Middle East to work to free the Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas.
“Mr. Kerry rushed to Jerusalem to pressure Israel to accept yet another ceasefire with terrorist Hamas. Less than 90 minutes later two Israeli soldiers were dead and an Israeli soldier kidnapped by the terrorists. He should now rush back to the region with no other agenda than obtaining the immediate release of the kidnapped Israeli soldier. He should insist that Qatar and other supporters of Hamas demand the soldier’s immediate release”, said Rabbis Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper, founder and dean and associate dean of SWC.Less than three hours after a three-day humanitarian cease-fire between Israel and Hamas went into effect Friday, the truce broke down when clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters erupted and militants fired rockets into Israel. Gaza militants captured an Israeli officer in the southern Gaza Strip just as the cease-fire was falling apart, said a senior Israeli military spokesman. Two other Israeli soldiers were reported killed. A top Hamas official in Cairo confirmed the abduction but said it was carried out before the truce began!
The question now is whether Hamas was ever interested in putting a stop to the conflict in Gaza.
Apparently not as time and time again, it has retreated from ceasefire and carried on with its offensive against Israel. Tunnels play a big role escalating violence. Hamas has been sneaking into Israeli territory and conducting raids and kidnappings. Tunnels were the reason, 3 Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and murdered in cold blood. Egypt, which has been trying to broker a peace deal and even a humanitarian ceasefire is now under pressure to do more. After trying to force Israel into accepting a peace deal, Kerry is now condemning this action and said, this was “an outrageous violation of the cease-fire negotiated over the past several days, and of the assurances given to the United States and the United Nations.” He called on Hamas to release the captive immediately and unconditionally.