Egyptian mediators work to firm up Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza
- Egypt sent a delegation to Israel to discuss ways of shoring up the ceasefire, including with aid for Palestinians in Gaza
- US Secretary of State Blinken to visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank next week
The ceasefire began before dawn on Friday, and Palestinians and Israelis are now assessing the damage from 11 days of hostilities in which Israel pounded Gaza with air strikes and militants fired barrages of rockets at Israel.
Palestinian officials put the reconstruction costs at tens of millions of dollars and medical officials said 248 people had been killed in Gaza. The devastation has raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in the densely populated enclave.
Convoys of trucks carrying aid began passing into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing after it was reopened by Israel, bringing much-needed medicine, food and fuel.
The UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund said it had released US$18.5 million for humanitarian efforts.
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Economists said the fighting could curb Israel’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and doctors said Palestinian attacks killed 13 people in Israel, where the rocket attacks caused panic in some communities.
A source familiar with planning said US Secretary of State would visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday and Thursday, hoping to build on the ceasefire mediated by Egypt with Washington’s support.
Egypt sent a delegation to Israel on Friday to discuss ways of firming up the ceasefire, including with aid for Palestinians in Gaza, Hamas officials said.
The delegates have since been shuttling between Israel and Gaza, with talks continuing on Saturday, the officials said.
The United Nations Security Council on Saturday called for “the full adherence” to a ceasefire and stressed the immediate need for humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians.
The 15-member council issued a statement, which had to be agreed by consensus, after being unable to speak during the 11-day conflict due to opposition by the United States. The French mission to the United Nations said it has put on hold its push for a resolution on the issue
Despite confrontations between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters at a Jerusalem holy site on Friday, there were no reports of Hamas rocket launches from Gaza or Israeli military strikes on the enclave as of Saturday morning.
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Israel and Hamas agree on truce to end 11-day war
He also stressed “we still need a two-state solution. It is the only answer, the only answer”.
The State Department announced Blinken’s visit on Thursday, without revealing dates, and said he would “discuss recovery efforts and working together to build better futures for Israelis and Palestinians”.
The source familiar with planning for Blinken’s visit said the top US diplomat would visit Egypt and Jordan as well as the Palestinian Authority, which is run by Hamas’ rival, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The latest round of Israeli bombardment forced 91,000 people to flee their homes in Gaza, the UN’s humanitarian agency said.
It has hit 1,447 homes, completely destroying 205 residential blocks or homes, as well as ravaged electricity and water supply, according to the Gaza authorities.
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“How can the world call itself civilised? This is a war crime. We are ruled by laws of the jungle,” Gaza resident Abu Ali said, standing next to the rubble of a 14-storey tower block.
Gaza has for years been subjected to an Israeli blockade that restricts the passage of people and goods, as well as restrictions by Egypt.
Both countries cite concerns about weapons reaching Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza and led the rocket barrage. Palestinians say the restrictions amount to collective punishment of Gaza’s 2 million population.
Gaza medical officials say the Palestinian death toll from Israeli air and artillery strikes includes 66 children.
Israel said its forces killed more than 200 fighters from Hamas and allied faction Islamic jihad, and that at least 17 civilian fatalities in Gaza were caused by militants’ rockets falling short.
The death toll in Israel included two children, a soldier and three foreign workers, doctors said.
In a cafe in the Israeli port city of Ashdod, north of Gaza, student Dan Kiri, 25, said Israel should continue attacking Hamas until it collapsed.
“It’s only a matter of time until the next operation in Gaza,” he said.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse
