Late on Saturday night, an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire agreement officially went into effect, bringing a truce between Israel and the militant group Islamic Jihad. The ceasefire aimed to end the most intense episode of cross-border fire since a 10-day war in 2021.
As the fighting subsided, the streets of Gaza, which had been largely deserted, filled with Palestinians. Some people expressed their joy by cheering and honking car horns, while others visited the homes of those killed in the conflict to pay their respects.
A text of the agreement seen by Reuters stated, “In light of the agreement of the Palestinian and the Israeli side, Egypt announces a ceasefire between the Palestinian and the Israeli sides has been reached.” It further outlined the terms of the ceasefire, including an end to targeting civilians, house demolitions, and immediate cessation of targeting individuals.
Israel’s national security adviser expressed gratitude to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for Cairo’s efforts, as stated in a message from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The statement emphasized that Israel would respond to attacks or threats accordingly while maintaining a commitment to peace.
Islamic Jihad also confirmed its acceptance of the ceasefire, with the group’s spokesman, Dawoud Shehab, stating, “We declare our acceptance of the Egyptian announcement, and we will abide by it as long as the occupation (Israel) abides by it.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre welcomed the ceasefire, acknowledging Egypt’s mediation efforts and thanking Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Meanwhile, despite the ceasefire being finalized, both sides continued to exchange fire, with air raid sirens sounding in Tel Aviv’s suburbs and Israel’s military launching strikes on Islamic Jihad targets in response to rocket fire.
While Gaza residents were relieved to hear about the truce, some remained skeptical, fearing that another round of fighting could erupt in the near future. One resident, Munir Marouf, expressed the desire for a ceasefire based on lasting principles, noting the past instances where calm was short-lived and lives were lost.
The recent round of airstrikes by Israel began early Tuesday, with the target being Islamic Jihad commanders who had planned attacks in Israel. In response, the Iranian-backed group launched over 1,000 rockets, causing Israelis to seek refuge in bomb shelters.
Throughout the five-day campaign, Israel successfully eliminated six senior Islamic Jihad commanders and destroyed numerous military installations. However, the fighting also resulted in the deaths of at least 10 civilians, including women and children, in Gaza. Additionally, one Israeli woman and a Palestinian laborer lost their lives due to Palestinian rocket fire in Israel.
Islamic Jihad, which rejects coexistence with Israel and advocates for its destruction, clashes with the Israeli government’s stance on the establishment of a Palestinian state in territories captured during the 1967 Middle East war.