Israeli officials confirm Gaza arrangement with Hamas underway
Deal includes ceasing the launch of incendiary balloons and other devices, reining in border fence protests in return for resumption of fuel supplies to Strip's power station, expanding fishing perimeter
An arrangement for calm in the Gaza Strip has been reached between Israel and Hamas, Israeli sources confirmed Friday. The arrangement includes the expansion of the coastal enclave's fishing perimeter to 15 nautical miles in return for a halt in the launching of firebombs from the Strip into Israel.
According to reports, the arrangement has been negotiated with the help of Egypt and the United Nations.
Unnamed official sources in Gaza confirmed to Ynet that the fishing perimeter was to be expanded from Friday 10am, and that Hamas will restrain protests along the Israel-Gaza border fence as well as controlling the launching of incendiary balloons and other devices into Israeli border communities.
Israel will also resume the supply of fuel to the Strip's power station and return some 60 fishing boats the IDF had confiscated from Gaza fishermen.
Dozens of fires have been documented in the Israeli communities bordering the Gaza Strip in recent weeks as a result of incendiary devices. The IDF has refrained from responding, and its current policy is to contain the situation.
On Thursday, 25 fires started in border communities, and an incendiary balloon even landed on the doorstep of a house in Eshkol Regional Council. There were no casualties.
