RAMALLAH/GAZA, Apr 9 (NNN-WAFA) – The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah Party, yesterday rejected Israeli threats, to storm Palestinian cities and towns, in the northern West Bank.
The two groups’ rejection came, after the Chief of General Staff of the Israeli army, Aviv Kochavi gave instructions to intensify preventive measures, in the northern West Bank and strengthen defence efforts in the area.
In a statement, Osama al-Qawasmi, the Fatah spokesman in the West Bank, said, “Israel is totally mistaken, if it thinks that the security iron fist is the solution,” adding that, experiences have proven the failure of security solutions.
Yesterday, Israeli media reports said that, Kochavi gave the order to enhance the army’s readiness on all fronts, mainly the Palestinian front, following the killing of two Israelis, in a shooting attack in Tel Aviv in central Israel on Thursday.
Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Fawzi Barhoum said, “The Israeli threats to the cities of the northern West Bank, especially to Jenin city and its residents, will not break the will of the city’s free youths, to carry on their struggle.”
On Thursday night, Israeli media reported that at least two Israelis were killed and nine others were injured, when a Palestinian gunman opened fire at a restaurant and pedestrians, in the centre of Tel Aviv, in central Israel.
According to Israeli media, the assailant is a 28-year-old Palestinian man from the refugee camp of Jenin, in the northern West Bank. He was reportedly killed in the old city of Jaffa, nine hours after the attack.