NewsWorld News

Gaza conflict: Reports of ceasefire after days of violence

There has been a lull in hostilities in the Gaza Strip after Palestinian militants said that a ceasefire with Israel had been agreed.

It comes after a weekend during which Palestinian militants launched hundreds of rockets into Israel prompting retaliatory air and artillery strikes.

At least four Israelis and 23 Palestinians were killed.

Israel has not confirmed the truce, however, reports say emergency measures have been lifted in southern Israel.

The violence flared up on Friday during a protest against the blockade of Gaza.

What’s the latest?

A TV station run by Hamas – the militant movement which controls Gaza – announced that both sides had agreed the ceasefire, beginning at 04:30 local time (01:30 GMT).

Egypt is said to have brokered it – assisted by the United Nations and Qatar.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not mentioned the truce. However, the Times of Israel said that protective restrictions imposed on residents in southern Israel since the flare up began were being lifted, including schools reopening.

Early on Monday the IDF said militants had fired 690 rockets into southern Israel during the past 48 hours – 240 of which had been intercepted by the country’s Iron Dome missile defence system.

In response, Israel had targeted 350 sites belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the IDF said. 

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to “continue its massive strikes on terror elements” in Gaza.

Mr Netanyahu says the country’s forces around the strip would be “stepped up with tank, artillery and infantry forces”.

See also  Kenya records 141 new COVID-19 cases

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button