Hamas Offers Immediate Ceasefire “On Mutual Basis” As Fighting Spirals Into Full-Scale War

Israel’s Channel 12 has tallied some 1,200 rockets launched from Gaza since Monday, while claiming the Iron Dome defense system has intercepted some 85-90% of all rockets headed toward populated areas.

During the mid-evening hours (local time) a senior Hamas official has announced that it is “ready to halt actions against Israel on a mutual basis,” according to Russia’s RIA.

High-ranking Hamas official says his group willing to halt operations against Israel on basis of mutual ceasefire https://t.co/G1adEQGIij

— David A. Daoud (@DavidADaoud) May 12, 2021

This after the death toll from Israeli airstrikes inside the Gaza Strip continues to soar, with The Wall Street Journal reporting in the latest update:

Israeli strikes and Hamas rocket fire have so far killed 56 Palestinians, including 14 children, and six Israelis, according to Palestinian and Israeli officials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has killed dozens of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives.

And at least five Israelis have been killed by Hamas rocket fire since the start of fighting.

مشهد تدمير قوات الاحتلال الصهيوني لبرج الشروق وسط مدينة #غزة.. “إسرائيل” تهدم الأبراج السكنية. #فلسطين_تقاوم pic.twitter.com/36BAFRPGrJ

— Yasser (@yasserashour95) May 12, 2021

But a ceasefire at this point is unlikely given PM Netanyahu’s earlier vow that the Palestinian militants would pay a “heavy price” – in a rapidly escalating scenario that many pundits say is closely resembling the devastating 2014 Gaza war.

Israel keeps destroying residential towers in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/y0xQFAre43

— TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) May 12, 2021

Israeli jets have also reportedly leveled a third apartment building in Gaza City. “Israeli fighter jets have demolished al-Shourouk tower in Gaza City, after repeatedly warning those inside to leave,” Times of Israel reports. “This is the third high-rise building, containing more than 10 stories, to be destroyed by the Israel Defense Forces in this current round of fighting.”