According to officials, Palestinian leaders have agreed to a ceasefire with Israel to end a deadly two-day escalation in violence that threatened to widen into war. 23 Palestenians and nine militants were killed in the escalation that began on Saturday with a massive rocket fire from Gaza, that triggerd retaliatory attacks by Israel.
Four Israelis civilians were killed. Israel Defence Forces has confirmed the cease-fire with Hamas, says civilians can resume normal routines. Terms of truce, however are unclear. Israeli PM Netanyahu has also said that the country is ready for more fighting if necessary.
Israel faced pressure to restore calm and put an end to the rockets hitting communities in the country's south. It commemorates its Memorial and Independence Days later. On the Gazan side, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began Monday.
According to a Islamic Jihad official, the new truce agreement was based on Israel easing its blockade. He also said, among steps mentioned in the truce were the relaxing of limits on fishing and improvements in Gaza's electricity and fuel situation. Israeli opposition politicians criticised the agreement.
Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008. and the escalation brought them to the brink of another. It was a rare admission of a targeted killing by Israel's army. The strike, according to Israel was a response to Hamas and Islamic Jihad firing some 690 rockets or mortars across the border since Saturday, while the Israeli Defence forces intercepting more than 240 of them. 35 of the rockets fell in urban areas, according to the army.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Egypt and the United Nations, had led to relative calm around Israel's election last month.
