There is optimism that a truce will hold and bring an end to the five days of warfare in Gaza between Israel and militants of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
![]() |
Image Source - Google | Image by <br><a href= BBC News |
After the ceasefire went into effect on Saturday evening, things got off to a rocky start when both sides continued to fire for two hours.
Since Tuesday, at least 33 Palestinians have died in Gaza, where Israel claims to have hit PIJ targets.
One Israeli and one Palestinian worker in Israel were murdered by Palestinian rocket firing into Israel.
Egypt was in charge of the mediation efforts and urged both parties to abide by the cease-fire agreement.
Washington expressed its appreciation for the cease-fire declaration and noted that US officials had collaborated with regional allies to reach the agreement.
Warning sirens went off in southern Israel, near to Gaza, and the Tel Aviv suburbs just before the truce was scheduled to start at 22:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Saturday. This was caused by Palestinian rocket barrages.
After it allegedly began, terrorists allegedly launched further rockets into southern Israeli villages, and the Israeli military allegedly conducted airstrikes on two PIJ rocket launchers in Gaza.
At about 23:00, more rocket fire prompted another wave of airstrikes.
![]() |
Image Source - Google | Image by <br><a href= BBC News |
![]() |
Image Source - Google | Image by <br><a href= BBC News |