Islamic Jihad 'committed to truce'

Islamic Jihad is committed to a truce with Israel in the interests of the Palestinian people, politburo member Sheikh Nafeth Azzam said Thursday. Islamic Jihad's military wing the Al-Quds Brigades did not announce any rocket fire into Israel in the recent escalation in violence, although two of its members were killed in an Israeli airstrike on northern Gaza on Monday. Eight Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since Monday. Several militant groups in Gaza, including Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades, said they fired dozens of rockets across the border. Azzam told Ma'an that Islamic Jihad was involved in talks with Egyptian mediators on Wednesday night to agree a truce. The Al-Qassam Brigades said it had agreed to sign up to the truce at midnight Wednesday. Azzam said Islamic Jihad is reviewing the situation and there will be discussions between Palestinian factions and Egypt to ensure Israel commits to a truce. Hamas militants have not fired any rockets since the ceasefire came into effect, but the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine's armed wing, the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, said it fired eight projectiles on Thursday afternoon. The Popular Resistance Committees' military wing, the Nasser al-Salah al-Din Brigades, said it fired three missiles into Israel on Thursday. PRC spokesman Abu Mujahed told Ma'an the resistance factions were responding to Israeli attacks on al-Shujaiyeh and Khan Younis on Thursday and Israel's detention of six fishermen near Beit Lahiya late Wednesday evening. The Popular Resistance Committees are monitoring Israeli actions and the resistance will respond immediately to any attacks, Abu Mujahed said. Israel's ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor on Thursday complained to the Security Council about rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. Responding to the complaint, Abu Mujahid said the UN council should realize that Israel started the escalation by assassinating PRC members. He added that Israel was a "professional liar" and such complaints were "nothing new."