Israeli deputy PM warns against interference in Gaza infighting

Israeli Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres on Sunday warned his country against interfering in the infighting between Palestinian rival factions, local media reported.

"We must leave Gaza to the Gazans," Peres was quoted by local daily Yedioth Ahronoth as saying at the weekly cabinet meeting.

His remarks came after the bloody weekend in which more than 20 Palestinians were killed, and around 250 were wounded in the factional clashes in the Gaza Strip since Thursday afternoon.

"We left (the Strip) in order not to reenter, and any interference in the conflict on the part of the State of Israel would only cause damage and won't have any benefit," Peres was quoted as saying.

"I hope that a solution is found which will lead to a ceasefire between the factions, but no one only the Palestinians can do it for them," said Peres, adding that Israel must maintain a low profile in the conflict.

Earlier on Sunday, Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported that the Israel Defense Forces has accelerated its planning of a possible large-scale military incursion into Gaza.

According to Ha'aretz, the army and the security establishment believed there is a possibility that Hamas will resume suicide bombings or other attacks on Israel, possibly due to accusations that Israel is supporting Fatah, which it is not overtly doing. On Saturday, Palestinian Interior Minister Said Siam announced that the Fatah and Hamas movements had agreed on an immediate cessation of armed clashes in the Gaza Strip, which has killed about 60 in the past ten days.

However, despite the truce deal, gunmen from rival factions still exchanged fire in the streets of Gaza on Sunday.

Source: Xinhua