Israel said refusing Islamic Jihad demands made through Egyptian mediator

The Palestinian Al-Quds newspaper, citing an unnamed Palestinian source, says Egyptian efforts to de-escalate the tensions between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad are still ongoing, but Israel has so far denied the terror group’s requests.

The paper says Islamic Jihad has demanded that the family of Bassem Saadi, the terror group’s West Bank leader who was arrested on Monday, be allowed to visit him to check on his condition.

Additionally, Islamic Jihad is demanding Israel end military operations in the West Bank, specifically in the Jenin area where Saadi was detained, Al-Quds says.

Lastly, the terror group is asking for the release of Khalil Awawda, a Palestinian detainee currently on hunger strike, the report says.

The source tells the paper that Israel is denying the requests, especially regarding its operations in the West Bank.

The report adds that the source indicated Islamic Jihad seems interested in de-escalating but has emphasized “its right to respond to the crimes of the occupation,” including the arrest of Saadi.