Joe Biden welcomes ceasefire agreed after three days of conflict triggered by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza Strip
and the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad has taken effect in the Gaza Strip after three days of cross-border fighting triggered by surprise Israeli airstrikes.
Israeli strikes and militant rockets continued in the minutes leading up to the beginning of the truce, which Egyptian mediators said started at 11.30pm on Sunday. Israel confirmed the ceasefire was set to take hold, but said it would respond if it was violated. Islamic Jihad also confirmed the agreement. “We appreciate the Egyptian efforts that had been exerted to end the Israeli aggression against our people,” spokesperson Tareq Selmi said.
A total of 44 Palestinians, among them 15 children, as well as members of Islamic Jihad, have now been killed in the bombing campaign and more than 300 people have been injured, while 13 Israelis have been treated in hospital for minor injuries as hundreds of retaliatory rockets were fired across the Gaza frontier towards the south of the country.
Whether the latest confrontation could yet escalate into full-scale conflict largely depends on whether Hamas, the larger Islamist movement in control of the strip, decides to intervene. While the two groups are allied, Hamas has not fully replenished its arsenal or tunnel network since last May’s war, and has resisted being drawn into the fighting. All sides are aware, however, that every passing hour increases the risk of miscalculation or escalation.
A joint Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed after Hamas seized control in 2007 has turned electricity and clean water into scare commodities and trapped a population struggling with about 50% unemployment and crumbling medical infrastructure.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Death toll rises in Gaza as Israel warns campaign against Islamic Jihad could last a weekDaily life in the strip has come to a standstill amid the worst violence in a year.
Read more »
Reports of truce between Israel and Palestine Islamic Jihad after days of fightingCeasefire agreed after three days of conflict triggered by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza Strip, Egyptian officials say
Read more »
Israel, Palestinians agree to ceasefire in Gaza after weekend of deadly clashesIsrael has agreed to a truce with Palestinian militants after a flare-up in the conflict over the weekend saw dozens killed in the Gaza strip.
Read more »
Israel, militants trade fire as Gaza death toll climbs to 24Israeli airstrikes flattened homes in Gaza and Palestinian rocket barrages into southern Israel persisted for a second day, raising fears of another major escalation in the Mideast conflict. 9News
Read more »
Israel, militants trade fire as Gaza death toll climbs to 24, including women and childrenIsraeli air strikes flatten homes in Gaza as Palestinian rocket barrages into southern Israel persist for a second day, raising fears of another major escalation in the Mideast conflict.
Read more »
Israel bombs Gaza Strip for second day in ‘pre-emptive operation’Health authorities in Palestinian enclave report 15 dead in Israeli attacks targeting Islamic Jihad
Read more »