Hamas leader, Israel PM dig in on Gaza border flare-up
GAZA, Palestinian Territory — The leader of Gaza’s ruling Hamas group and Israel’s prime minister staked out tough positions Monday, making de-escalation on the Israel-Gaza border in the near future unlikely.
Since late March, 26 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds wounded by Israeli fire in mass border protests led by Hamas, but also driven by widespread desperation over the territory’s decade-old border blockade by Israel and Egypt.
The protests are seen, in part, as an attempt by Hamas to break the blockade.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh renewed a pledge Monday that the marches would pave the way for a return of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to what is now Israel.