Hamas chief tells UN he doesn’t know who fired past week’s rockets at Israel

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (3rd-R) waves upon his arrival at a rally marking the 31st anniversary of the group’s founding, in Gaza City December 16, 2018

Times of Israel reports, “The leader of the Hamas terror group reportedly told the United Nations envoy for the Middle East on Friday that he did not know who in Gaza was responsible for this week’s rocket fire at Israel. “No faction fired toward Israel” in the past week, Ismail Haniyeh told Nickolay Mladenov, according to the Ynet news site. “We’re conducting an investigation to find out who fired,” Haniyeh said at the meeting in Gaza, adding that all Gaza-based factions had denied firing the projectiles at Israel.”

“Hamas, a terror group which seeks Israel’s destruction, did not want the unofficial ceasefire deal reached with Israel to collapse, Haniyeh said. Mladenov promised Haniyeh that a Qatari envoy would enter the Gaza Strip with a monthly cash delivery next week. He conveyed to Haniyeh that Israel was interested in maintaining calm in the south, the report said, citing Palestinian sources.”

United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov

“The meeting came after a fresh surge in violence, including two nights of rocket attacks and retaliatory air force strikes, and a wave of arson balloons sent into Israel. Several thousand Palestinians gathered along the border for weekly protests, with several hundred taking part in violent riots. Rioters threw explosive devices and rocks at troops and also tried to storm the fence in one place. Troops responded with tear gas and live fire in some cases. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said 46 people were wounded.” (more…)