International
Israel, Hamas Agree To Ceasefire After 11 Days Of Fighting
- Both Israel and Hamas have claimed victory in the conflict
A ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip has come into effect.
According to the BBC, the ceasefire began early on Friday, bringing to an end 11 days of fighting in which more than 240 people were killed, most of them in Gaza.
Palestinians poured on to the streets of Gaza soon after the truce began, while a Hamas official warned that its hands were “on the trigger”.
US President Joe Biden said the ceasefire brought “genuine opportunity” for progress.
Read also: Al Jazeera Says Will Not Be Silenced, After Gaza Office Destroyed
Soon after it started at 02:00 on Friday (23:00 GMT on Thursday), large numbers of Palestinians took to the streets in cars and on foot to celebrate. In Gaza, drivers honked their horns, while loudspeakers from mosques pronounced “the victory of the resistance”.
Israel’s military later said it was removing nearly all emergency restrictions on movement throughout the country.
The fighting began on 10 May after weeks of rising Israeli-Palestinian tension in occupied East Jerusalem that culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Hamas began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes.
At least 232 people, including more than 100 women and children, were killed in Gaza, according to its health ministry. Israel has said at least 150 militants were among those killed in Gaza. Hamas has not given casualty figures for fighters.
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In Israel 12 people, including two children, were killed, its medical service says.
The Israeli military says more than 4,300 rockets were fired towards its territory by militants and that it struck more than 1,000 militant targets in Gaza.
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