Palestinians celebrate the ceasefire agreed between Israeli and Palestinian groups in Gaza City, Gaza, May 13, 2023.
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Armistice between Israel and extremist Islamic jihadists formally enters into force late Saturday night, Egypt-brokered ceasefire agreement signifies end to worst cross-border fires since 10-day war in 2021 Was.
After the fighting ended, the almost empty streets of Gaza were filled with Palestinians. Some cheered and honked their car horns, while others headed to the homes of those killed in battle to pay their respects.
“Following the agreement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Egypt announces that a ceasefire has been reached between the Palestinian and Israeli sides,” the document said, according to a statement obtained by Reuters.
“Both sides will abide by the ceasefire, which will include the cessation of targeting civilians, demolishing homes, and cessation of personal targeting immediately after the ceasefire comes into effect,” he said.
Israel’s national security adviser thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for Cairo’s efforts, according to a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Quiet will be greeted with silence and Israel will continue to do what it takes to defend itself if it is attacked or threatened,” the statement said.
Islamic Jihad also confirmed the agreement. “We declare that we accept Egypt’s announcement and we will comply with it as long as the occupation (Israel) complies with it,” said the group’s spokesman, Dawood Shehab.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre welcomed Saturday night’s ceasefire, acknowledged Sisi and Egypt’s mediation efforts with the Israeli government, and thanked Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. represented.
As the ceasefire was being negotiated, the two countries continued to shell, air raid sirens rang out as far as Tel Aviv, and Israeli forces announced they had fired rockets at Islamic Jihad targets.
While some Gazans were delighted at the news of the ceasefire agreement, others were disgusted by the escalation and feared that fighting would soon erupt again. “We want the ceasefire to be based on principle,” said 43-year-old resident Mounir Marouf. .
Israel launched its latest airstrike early Tuesday morning, announcing it was targeting an Islamic Jihad commander who was planning an attack on Israel.
In response, Iran-backed groups fired more than 1,000 rockets and the Israelis took refuge in air-raid shelters.
During the five-day operation, Israel killed six senior Islamic Jihad commanders and destroyed many military installations.
In Gaza, at least 10 civilians, including women and children, were killed during the fighting, and two Israeli women and a Palestinian worker were killed by Palestinian rockets fired inside Israel.
Islamic Jihad denies coexistence with Israel and preaches its destruction.
The top ministers of Israel’s religious nationalist government are excluding any Palestinian-claimed state in the territory Israeli-occupied in the 1967 Middle East war.
