Egypt Mediating To Restore Calm To Gaza Amid Israeli Airstrikes

Egypt said it is holding contacts to restore calm to the Gaza Strip amid Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian territory.

A statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Cairo was "conducting intensive communications" to "contain the situation in Gaza" and "preserve lives and property."

The statement did not provide any further details, but an Egyptian official told the local channel Extra News that Cairo was communicating with Israel and Palestinian factions to end the current escalation in Gaza.

"Egypt is conducting intensive communications with the Palestinian and the Israeli sides to end the current escalation in Gaza and to contain the situation," said the official, who preferred to remain unnamed.

"Our goal is the continuation of the cease-fire, the stability of the region, and the safeguarding of the potentialities for peace," he added.

At least 11 Palestinians were killed and 80 others injured in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since Friday.

Tension escalated across the Palestinian territories since Monday when Israeli forces detained Bassam al-Saadi, a senior leader of Islamic Jihad group, in a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin.

The Israeli army has imposed restrictions on the Gaza Strip, including the closure of border crossings with the Palestinian territory, amid fears of a retaliatory response from Islamic Jihad group to the arrest.

The Palestinian group said Friday senior leader Tayseer al-Jabari was among those killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza.

Last year, Egypt managed to broker a cease-fire in Gaza after 11 days of Israeli airstrikes on the seaside territory during which more than 200 Palestinians were killed and thousands injured.

Thirteen Israelis were also killed in rocket fire from Gaza during the course of the hostilities.

Writing by Ahmed Asmar -