Egypt says it’s attempting to broker calm in Gaza

Egypt has been conducting intensive mediation talks with Israel and the Palestinian factions in Gaza in an attempt to restore calm to the area, Egypt’s ambassador to the Palestinian Authority said Wednesday.

Yasser Othman told the Hamas-affiliated website Al-Resalah that Egypt was attempting to contain the situation in Gaza and prevent violence there from deteriorating into full-fledged war.

“The Israeli military escalation in the Gaza Strip is unjustified and completely unacceptable,” Othman was quoted as saying.

In another interview, with Bethlehem-based news agency Maan, Othman said Israel must stop its strikes in Gaza first in order for the factions in Gaza to cease responding in kind.

Palestinian sources reported seven fatalities and dozens of injured in the Gaza Strip since Sunday. An IAF airstrike on Wednesday severely wounded Mohammed Rashun, a member of the Mujahideen Shura Council of Jerusalem, the group that claimed responsibility for the cross-border attack that left one Israeli man dead on Monday. The IAF strike killed Ghaleb Armilat, a member of Islamic Jihad.