Live UpdateFrom the Liveblog of Sunday, August 17, 2014
Hamas says Palestinians need security first
Responding to Netanyahu’s statements during the cabinet meeting today that Israel will only agree to a truce if its security needs are met, and that “Hamas will continue to suffer very serious blows” if there is no agreement, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri says, “The only path to security is for the Palestinians to feel secure first and for the siege to be lifted from them.”
“Hundreds of soldiers were killed, wounded, and even kidnapped; the resistance’s activities and the rockets succeeded in striking deep into Israel and imposed an aerial blockade,” he continues, with quite a bit of exaggeration.