Palestinian factions agree with Abbas on strengthening Gaza ceasefire

Palestinian factions agreed with President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday night to enforce Gaza's fragile ceasefire a week after it took effect, an official said on Sunday.

Saleh Zidan of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) said the factions agreed on forming a special committee to outline conditions that secure the continuation of the calmness.

They also agreed to stop "all actions that give pretexts for Israel to continue its military escalation against the Palestinians."

But on Sunday morning, a home-made rocket was fired from Gaza into southern Israel in the third such violation of the ceasefire in a week.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of moderate Abbas' Fatah movement, claimed responsibility over the attack which caused no casualties.

In return, a Palestinian report issued on Saturday has concluded that Israel breached the truce 70 times, mostly in West Bank which the Palestinians demand to be covered under the ceasefire deal.

At the end of the factions meeting, Zidan said the political groups have demanded the ceasefire to be mutual and to be extended to West Bank.

Across West Bank cities, the Israeli army arrested six people Saturday night, saying they were wanted. The detainees included two women.

Meanwhile, the Israeli ministerial security committee is to meet on Sunday to discuss possibilities of applying ceasefire to West Bank.

Source: Xinhua