UpdateOn Sunday morning, the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip now appears to be holding. The first hours after the armistice was to come into effect, there were still attacks on both sides.
The ceasefire came after Egypt’s mediation. The intention was to silence the guns from 10 p.m. local time (9 p.m. Belgian time, ed.) on Saturday. But that was not immediately respected. Shortly after 10 p.m., Palestinian militants fired several more rockets at Israel. Media reported air raid sirens being activated in Nirim and Ein Hashlosha. In addition, sirens and explosions could be heard in the wider area of Tel Aviv. The Israeli air force also attacked targets in the coastal strip.
But later in the night the truce seems to be respected. Ziad Nakhala, the leader of Islamic Jihad, declared the fighting with Israel over. “Our people have stood their ground and have not been crushed,” he said in a video message. In the Gaza Strip, several hundred Palestinians took to the streets with flags.
Israel’s national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi also thanked Egypt for “its great efforts” to end the fighting. According to him, “calm should be answered with calm”. But Hanegbi did warn that Israel would defend itself in case of further attacks. The army did say it would reopen Israeli roads on the border with Gaza on Sunday.
Congratulations to Egypt also came from the White House.
On Tuesday, Israel launched a large-scale military offensive against Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip. 34 Palestinians were killed, including six children. A Palestinian rocket killed one on Israeli soil.
LOOK. More dead in attacks on and from Gaza
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