Gaza ceasefire ends five days of fighting that left dozens dead
Calm has returned to Gaza as a fragile ceasefire ended five days of fighting, leaving Palestinians and Israelis to count the cost of cross-border fire which has killed dozens of people.
Fishers launched their boats on Sunday as Gazans emerged from sheltering in their homes during the fierce exchange of fire.
Fighting broke out on Tuesday with Israeli strikes on the Islamic Jihad militant group ceasing late Saturday, after days of truce talks led by Egypt.
As the skies fell silent, residents were left to mourn the 33 people killed in Gaza, as well as the two in Israel – a Palestinian labourer from the territory and an elderly Israeli.
After the ceasefire took effect in Gaza, ambulances and fire engines drove in convoy while Palestinians gathered in the streets to celebrate.
More than 50 homes were destroyed and about 950 people displaced in Gaza, the UN cited local officials as saying.
“We’re on the street, there’s no home for my children or their children,” said Mohammed al-Louh, whose house was destroyed by Israeli strikes.
“After the ceasefire, we have an ongoing tragedy because of the great scale of the destruction,” his relative said.
Medics said 190 people had been wounded in Gaza and 30 in Israel, seven with injuries resulting from Palestinian rocket fire and the rest while heading to shelters.
The UN’s Middle East envoy, Tor Wennesland, welcomed the truce and said he was “deeply saddened by the loss of life and injuries”.
Israel also reopen its two crossings with Gaza on Sunday, the closure of which had affected Palestinians with work permits or permission to access essential medical treatment not available in the territory.
The move also paved the way for supplies of medicine, food and fuel to reach the blockaded enclave.
Israel and Islamic Jihad committed to the ceasefire, but both warned they would not hesitate to resume fire if the other side violated the agreement.
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“Quiet will be met with quiet,” the office of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said in a statement.
“If Israel is attacked or threatened, it will continue to do everything it needs to in order to defend itself.”
Tariq Salmi, an Islamic Jihad spokesperson, said if Israel “commits any foolish act or any assassination … the resistance will resume where it left off”.
As calm returned in Gaza, clashes persisted in the occupied West Bank. Israeli forces raided central Nablus early on Sunday, sparking clashes with Palestinian residents, according to an AFP photographer.
An army statement said troops had arrested two people suspected of shooting at soldiers in the West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 six-day war.
Source: The Guardian
