Israel and the extremist Palestinian group Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip have stopped attacking each other after five days of fighting. A cease-fire brokered by Egypt only a few hours earlier has been in effect since this evening. Previously, there had been rocket attacks in the direction of Israel.
In Gaza, the largest city in the Gaza Strip, the streets, deserted during the fighting, filled with reports of a ceasefire. Passers-by cheered, drivers honked. “Considering the agreement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Egypt announces that a ceasefire has been reached between the Palestinian and Israeli sides,” the ceasefire agreement, viewed by Reuters, reads.
Israel and Palestinians confirm
Israel thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for mediating, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Islamic Jihad also confirmed the agreement: “We declare that we accept the Egyptian announcement.”
Yesterday morning Israel ruled out an early ceasefire. “We are not holding ceasefire talks,” said national security adviser Tsachi Hanegbi. Israel’s top priority is fighting the jihadists. Islamic Jihad announced it would continue to fire rockets. “The Resistance has been preparing for a months-long confrontation,” it said in a statement.
