The Gaza ceasefire will end on December 19th as per the agreement reached between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority).

The Defense Ministry’s Amos Gilad will travel to Egypt on Sunday as talks are underway towards extending the agreement. Defense Minister Ehud Barak has indicated he supports the move, stating that the current situation is preferable to alternatives available.

According to some intelligence experts, following a brief period of relative quiet last week, a cessation in attacks attributed to the Muslim holiday of the Feast of the Sacrifice, an escalation in attacks is expected this week ahead of the end of the ceasefire.

Hamas on the other hand has demanded from Israel the same conditions in Yehuda and Shomron, namely a withdrawal of forces and a cessation of military operations, in order to agree to an extension of the ceasefire agreement. According to a Haaretz report, Hamas will most likely be less favorable to agreeing to extend the ceasefire under present conditions.

In the meantime, rockets and mortar shells were fired at Israeli communities on motzei Shabbos and Sunday morning. Baruch Hashem, there were no injuries.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)