Hamas concludes talks on ceasefire agreement with Israel
The organization's leadership, which has been holding discussions since Friday on UN's plan for a long term ceasefire with Israel, is expected to leave for Cairo in order to issue its official response to the proposal; Meanwhile, Two Hamas members are killed by the IDF during a military exercise showcasing the terror group's fighting capabilities.
The delegation is expected to return to Cairo and issue an official response to the proposed agreement within 24 hours.
In the meantime, in an incident earlier in the day the IDF attacked with tank fire a Hamas position near Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, killing two members of the terror group's military wing.
The Hamas fighters opened fire at IDF soldiers, prompting retaliatory tank fire. The Gaza Ministry of Health provided a different version, reporting a drone strike. No Israeli troops were hurt in the incident.
The military group later issued a statement saying that the IDF attack happened during a military exercise showcasing the fighting capabilities of Hamas’ naval commando unit.
The statement also added that several Hamas leaders were present during the event and that the two Hamas members killed by Israeli forces were snipers.
The 9th Battalion of the 401st Brigade shelled the manned Hamas position with a Merkava Mark IV tank mere minutes after the troops came under fire. Unlike previous incidents, the IDF returned fired immediately, without waiting for Hamas personnel to evacuate the position.
The incident did not affect the construction of Israel's underground obstacle on the Gaza border, which continued near the area of the incident.
Hamas vowed to avenge its fighters, blaming Israel for the incident.
"We view Israel's attack of the al-Qassam Brigades' outpost, which caused the death of two fighters, very gravely," Hamas said in a statement. "The resistance will not accept a policy of attacking its positions and fighters without Israel paying the price."
The incident, as mentioned earlier, took place while a delegation of very senior Hamas officials was still in the Gaza strip to discuss a UN-proposed ceasefire agreement with Israel.
