Gaza’s Islamic Jihad group and Israel agree to Egypt-brokered truce

‘The two sides will abide by the ceasefire which will include an end to targeting civilians, house demolition, an end to targeting individuals,’ the agreement said

Even as the truce was being finalised, the two sides kept up firing, with air raid sirens sounding as far as Tel Aviv’s suburbs

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Palestinians walk among the rubble of buildings, which were damaged in an Israeli strike during Israel-Gaza fighting, after a ceasefire was agreed between Palestinian factions and Israel, in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:38am, 14 May 2023Updated: 2:03pm, 14 May 2023

A truce between Israel and the militant Islamic Jihad group officially came into effect late on Saturday night, with an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire agreement meant to end the worst episode of cross-border fire since a 10-day war in 2021.

As fighting tapered off, streets in Gaza that had largely been deserted filled with Palestinians. Some people cheered and honked car horns while others headed to the homes of people killed in the fighting to show their respect.

“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,” a text of the agreement read.

People look at a building, which was destroyed in an Israeli strike during Israel-Gaza fighting, after a ceasefire was agreed between Palestinian factions and Israel, in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza Strip on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

“The two sides will abide by the ceasefire which will include an end to targeting civilians, house demolition, an end to targeting individuals immediately when the ceasefire goes into effect,” it said.

Israel’s national security adviser thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for Cairo’s efforts, a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

“Quiet will be met with quiet and if Israel will be attacked or threatened, it shall continue to do what it must in order to defend itself,” the statement said.

Islamic Jihad also confirmed the agreement. “We declare our acceptance of the Egyptian announcement and we will abide by it as long as the occupation (Israel) abides by it,” the group’s spokesman, Dawoud Shehab, said.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre welcomed the ceasefire on Saturday night, joining the Israeli government in acknowledging Sisi’s and Egypt’s mediation efforts, and thanking Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.