Man surveys rocket damage at Ashdod school
Man surveys rocket damage at Ashdod schoolIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Egypt has failed in its attempt to broker another ceasefire to end rocket attacks on Israel as terrorists disprove Cairo’s influence.

Egypt was largely responsible for mediating the deal two weeks ago to free kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for the release of 1,027 terrorists and security prisoners from Israeli jails.

Following the resurgence of Gaza missile attacks on Israel and swift retaliation  from the IDF, the  provisional military regime in Cairo urged Hamas-controlled Gaza to announce another ceasefire. Different reports stated that the ceasefire was to come into effect at 3 a.m. or 6 a.m. Sunday.

Shortly after 7:30 a.m., the Associated Press quoted anonymous but official sources in Egypt as saying that they were not able to win agreement among all of the terrorist factions in Gaza. However, Islamic Jihad terrorists signaled that they might observe an unofficial ceasefire if Israel ceases to retaliate.

Hamas has announced numerous ceasefires the past several years, but all of them were broken in a short time.

Ten people – one Israeli and nine terrorists – were killed in the past 24 hours. Dozens of other Israelis were wounded, and many schools were shut down Sunday. One school in Ashdod sustained serious damage on the Sabbath, and the school was closed.

The IDF continued to retaliate Saturday night and early Sunday, striking six terrorist targets, including thee rocket laucnhing sites.