Truce between Islamic Jihad and Israel largely holds after Israeli air raids killed 34 Palestinians in besieged enclave.
A ceasefire between Islamic Jihad and Israel has largely held in the Gaza Strip since Thursday morning, amid reports of cross-border fire exchange.
The agreement reportedly brokered by Egypt came into effect after two days of cross-border fighting and Israeli air attacks killed at least 34 Palestinians, including eight members of the same family.
Gaza Health Ministry on Thursday identified them as members of the Abu Malhous family from Deir al-Balah area.
At least 63 Israelis received treatment for injuries from rocket attacks launched from Gaza.
Al Jazeera’s Harry Fawcett, reporting from near the Gaza fence, said there seems to be a “real fragility” to the ceasefire, which came into force at 5:30am local time (03:30 GMT), according to the Islamic Jihad group spokesman Musab al-Braim.
“We heard from our colleagues in Gaza, that more rockets have been fired out of Gaza, and around the same time, we heard here what sounded like outgoing Israeli artillery,” Fawcett said, without being able to confirm.
“The ceasefire that had been holding for about four or five hours appears to be less firm,” he noted. “This is what the UN envoy to the region … was warning of. He said the coming hours and days would be crucial in trying to avert a wider war.”
The latest violence escalated after Israel killed top Islamic Jihad commander Bahaa Abu al-Ata in an air raid on Tuesday, deeming him an imminent threat.
Fawcett said that the terms of the ceasefire agreement are a “little bit different, depending on who you listen to”.
Al-Braim told Al Jazeera that his group had secured concessions from Israel.
“The deal included the occupation’s submission to conditions, which is to stop the assassinations, particularly of the protesters in the March of Return demonstrations, and to begin practically the procedures to break the siege,” he said.
According to an Islamic Jihad official, the agreement stipulates that Palestinian factions must ensure a return to calm in Gaza and “maintain peace” during demonstrations, while Israel must stop hostilities and “ensure a ceasefire” during demonstrations by Palestinians.
A top Egyptian official told the AFP news agency that his country had undertaken efforts to end the two days of fighting that saw Israel bombing dozens of houses and farms in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
Source: Aljazeera
