Egyptian PM to visit Gaza Friday

Egyptian Prime Minister Hesham Qandil, along with a number of security officials and ministers, will visit Gaza Strip on Friday, presidency spokesperson Yasser Ali said Thursday in a statement. The visit aims to stress Egypt’s solidarity with the people of Gaza against the Israeli aggression, Ali said, noting that the visit was ordered by President Mohamed Morsy. Egypt recalled its ambassador to Israel on Wednesday, summoned the Israeli ambassador to Cairo in protest over the assault and ordered its representative at the United Nations to call for an emergency Security Council meeting. Morsy spoke to US President Barack Obama and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon over phone and discussed the Gaza escalation with them. Hamas-led government’s spokesperson Taher al-Nunu confirmed and welcomed the Egyptian prime minister’s visit, describing it as “brave.” The Israeli aggression over the past few days has left 15 people dead and tens wounded. A Hamas rocket killed three Israelis north of Gaza on Thursday and another landed south of Tel Aviv.