Mohammed Mar'i Saudi Gazette RAMALLAH – Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil Friday said that his country will spare no efforts to end the Israeli military operation on Gaza Strip and to restore a continuous ceasefire between Palestinian armed groups and Israel. Qandil said in a joint press conference with Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh outside Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital that “Egypt will pay everything to stop the aggression and achieve a lasting ceasefire.” The Egyptian prime minister arrived in the Gaza Strip to show support for the Palestinian people and meet Haniyeh following a two-day Israeli military offensive in the enclave. Israel has killed 22 Palestinians and wounded 235 others since it launched the Operation Pillar of Defense Wednesday to root out the military infrastructure in the coastal enclave, beginning with the targeted killing of Ahmed Al-Jaabari, the chief of Hamas's military wing. Qandil added that his country “is acting in multiple arenas to put an end to the aggression, bring peace and establish a Palestinian state... That's the only way for stability in the region.” The Egyptian prime minister said that his country will continue its efforts to end the Israeli “aggression” on the Gaza Strip, calling the international community to stop being silent and take action to end the violence. “This tragedy cannot pass in silence and the world should take responsibility in stopping this aggression,” he said. Qandil also called the Palestinian factions to unite since this is “the only way for Palestinian strength,” asserting that Egypt will undertake its role in the implementation of the national reconciliation agreement that will end five years of internal split. Haniyeh described Qandil's visit to Gaza Strip as “historical and a message to the occupation,” adding that Israel “can no longer do whatever it wants in Gaza.” Earlier on the day, Israeli media reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to halt airstrikes on the Gaza Strip for three hours during Qandil's visit, on condition that no rockets are fired from Gaza into Israel. However, rockets fired from Gaza and air strikes by Israeli jets were reported right after his arrival.
