Tel Aviv/Gaza, May 21, (dpa/GNA) – A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas over fighting in the Gaza Strip came into force in the early hours of Friday.
From 2 am on Friday (2300 GMT Thursday) Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli military should stop all attacks.
After mediation by Egypt, Israel’s Cabinet approved a unilateral ceasefire late on Thursday, with a Hamas representative confirming the Islamist organization’s agreement shortly afterwards.
Taher al-Nuno said the Palestinian “armed resistance” would honour the ceasefire as long as it is upheld by the Israel side.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s political leadership has stressed that the reality on the ground will determine whether fighting continues.
If the Palestinians continue with rocket attacks, the ceasefire will be lifted immediately, he said.
US President Joe Biden said the ceasefire offers a “genuine opportunity” to make progress towards lasting peace in the Middle East.
He said the US, the UN and other partners stand ready to help the Palestinian Authority with humanitarian aid and reconstruction assistance, in comments at the White House.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the ceasefire and called on all sides to observe it.
In nearly two weeks of fighting, some 230 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air raids and 12 people in Israel have been killed by rocket fire from Gaza.
Israeli forces and Gaza Strip militants began firing missiles back and forth on May 10 after days of tension regarding restrictions in Jerusalem, access to holy sites and the expected eviction of Palestinian families from homes in the city.
GNA