MOSCOW, July 27 (RIA Novosti) – Rebels from the Palestinian movement Hamas violate the ceasefire previously initiated by the group, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with CNN Sunday.
"Hamas doesn't even accept its own cease-fire, it's continuing to fire at us as we speak," Netanyahu stressed adding that Israel would take all necessary measures to protect the country and its people.
The Prime Minister elaborated that the Palestinian militants are using civilians as a “human shield”.
Israel and Hamas previously agreed to a 12-hour humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip, which came into force early Saturday. As the deadline for the end of the truce approached Israel said it decided to extend the ceasefire till Sunday midnight at the UN request. The truce was later called off after the Palestinian militants refused to maintain the UN-requested ceasefire and fired rockets into the Israeli territory.
On Sunday, Hamas reversed its position and said it would accept a 24-hour humanitarian pause with Israel.
Over 1,000 Palestinians have died in the ongoing military operation launched by Israel early July against Hamas and its allied militant groups. According to recent estimates, the Israeli side has lost more than 40 soldiers and three civilians.
