Israeli aircraft unleashed four missile strikes on Hamas targets a few minutes apart Saturday morning, killing at least four Hamas activists and wounding six, doctors and security officials reported. The strikes were part of an ongoing effort to curb Qassam rocket fire on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
The first strike hit a Hamas installation in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood, and doctors reported at least one dead. Hamas said two of its members had been killed.
Another airstrike hit a Hamas training center on the outskirts of Shati refugee camp. Minutes later, a third strike hit a Hamas facility in the southern town of Rafah, security officials said. A fourth strike targeted a Hamas training base near the southern town of Khan Yunis.
Israel nabbed a Palestinian minister on Saturday and pounded Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Minister of State Wasfi Kabha of Hamas was arrested overnight in his village near the West Bank city of Jenin, a Palestinian security official said.
The Israeli army said it arrested a Hamas member overnight but did not identify him, Reuters reported.
Kabha was the second cabinet minister to be seized by Israeli forces since Thursday, when troops abducted Education Minister Naser al-Shaer of Hamas and 32 other officials in the West Bank.
In the Gaza Strip, Israel carried out five air strikes early on Saturday morning, hitting Hama posts and a guardhouse outside Palestinian PM Ismail Haniyeh's home, witnesses said. At least three people, all passers-by, were wounded, doctors said.
The barrage came hours after Hamas' armed wing and other armed factions said they were considering a proposal by President Mahmoud Abbas for a ceasefire in Gaza. After crisis talks with Abbas' Fatah faction, armed groups said they could accept a new, mutual ceasefire in Gaza alone. According to Fatah, they gave Israel until Sunday to respond.
"The next 48 hours will be decisive for determining which way the factions are going, and it will depend on Israel and whether it wants to stop its aggression," said Fatah spokesman Abdel-Hakim Awad.
