Israel: Israel and Islamic Jihad announce Gaza truce
Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have agreed a ceasefire, raising hopes of an end to the most serious flare-up in hostilities between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip for more than a year.
The agreement, brokered by Egyptian officials, took effect at 11.30pm local time on Sunday, and followed three days of fighting during which Israeli forces bombarded sites in Gaza and Islamic Jihad militants fired hundreds of rockets into Israel.
According to the health ministry in Gaza, 44 Palestinians, including 15 children and four women, have been killed since the fighting began. No Israeli deaths have been reported.
Israel said it maintained the right to “respond strongly” if the ceasefire was violated. “We will not allow any disruption to the lives of the citizens of the State of Israel,” the government’s public diplomacy directorate said.
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