JERUSALEM (AP) — A senior Hamas government official in Gaza has gone on Israel Radio to make a rare direct appeal to the Israeli public for a halt in the current round of fighting.
Hamas’ deputy foreign minister, Ghazi Hamad, told the radio station Sunday that the group would cease its attacks on southern Israel if Israel halts its military operations against Gaza militants.
Hamad said that “we are interested in calm but want the Israeli military to stop its operations.”
The bitter enemies have been locked in heavy fighting in recent days.
Earlier Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened a harsher response if militants continue attacking southern Israel with rocket, mortar and missile fire.
