Hamas agree to ceasfire but issue warning to Israel

(30 May 2018) Gaza's Hamas rulers said Wednesday they had agreed to a ceasefire with Israel to end the largest flare-up of violence between the sides since a 2014 war. "We agreed to this (cease-fire), but we told all parties if they fire again we will respond in a strong way," said Hamas spokesman, Hamad Al-Regeb. The Israeli military struck dozens of sites in Gaza overnight as rocket fire continued toward southern Israeli communities into early Wednesday morning, setting off air raid sirens in the area throughout the night. The military said it hit drone storage facilities, military compounds, and rocket and munitions workshops across the Gaza Strip. The overnight Hamas rocket fire reached the city of Netivot for the first time since the 2014 war. A home was struck, but no one was wounded. With neither side interested in a full-blown conflict, a tense calm appeared to be holding Wednesday as Israeli children went to school in the morning. The border area has been tense in recent weeks as Palestinians have held mass protests aimed at lifting a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed after Hamas seized power in 2007. Israeli fire has killed more than 110 Palestinians, most of them during the Hamas-led protests, which climaxed on May 14. Israel and Hamas are bitter enemies and have fought three wars since the Islamic militant group seized control of Gaza in 2007. The last war, in 2014, was especially devastating, with over 2,000 Palestinians killed, including hundreds of civilians, and widespread damage inflicted on Gaza's infrastructure in 50 days of fighting. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...