A senior Islamic Jihad leader said Egyptian-led negotiations have produced an agreement with Israel to end a military conflict that began earlier this week.
(Bloomberg) — A senior Islamic Jihad leader said Egyptian-led negotiations have produced an agreement with Israel to end a military conflict that began earlier this week.
“We will abide by the cease-fire agreement as long as the Israeli enemy adheres to it,” Muhammed al-Hindi told Cairo News Television. A truce, reportedly to go into effect at 22:00 Israel time, would stop the bloodshed before it expands into a deeper military embroilment.
The prime minister’s office had no comment on the reports.
Meanwhile, air-raid sirens continued to sound in southern Israel and the Israeli airforce launched strikes against Gaza.
Two people have been killed by rockets fired at Israel by the Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, while in Gaza 33 people were killed by Israeli air strikes, among them seven militants.
Egypt has led international efforts to mediate a ceasefire. Gaza’s militant ruling Hamas movement, which like Islamic Jihad is backed by Iran, didn’t join the fray, helping to contain the fighting.
Israel Readies for Escalation After Attacking Gaza Militants (1)
Hundreds of rockets have hurtled toward Israel’s south and Tel Aviv-area heartland, and dozens of air assaults targeted Gaza rocket launchers, a rocket manufacturing site and other Islamic Jihad positions, the Israeli military said.
Israel embarked upon this latest campaign after Islamic Jihad bombarded it with more than 100 rockets last week following the death of a fighter who had been on a hunger strike in an Israeli prison. It was the most violent confrontation between Israel and Gaza militants since August 2022.
Palestinian Militant’s Death in Israeli Jail Sparks Fighting (1)
More than 100 Palestinians, including dozens of militants, have been killed in the West Bank this year. Palestinian attacks against Israel have killed at least 20 people.
–With assistance from Amy Teibel.
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