GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- National and Islamic factions in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday announced the formation of a joint operations group to coordinate its defense of the Gaza Strip.

Atef Abu Saif, a leader of Fatah in Gaza, told Ma’an that during the meeting factions discussed the situation in Gaza and the effects of the aggression and ways to resist it.

According to Abu Saif, they also discussed diplomatic efforts by Abbas to stop the Israeli attack.