Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire on Thursday, halting an 11-day war that killed more than 200 people, wreaking havoc in the Gaza Strip, and blocking activities in much of Israel.
At 2 a.m. Friday, local time, as the ceasefire went into effect, life returned to the streets of Gaza. People came out of their homes, some of them singing and whistling from the balconies of the houses. Many people fired guns into the air, celebrating the ceasefire.
Health officials in Gaza say that since the beginning of the fighting on May 10, 232 Palestinians, including 65 children and 39 women, have been killed and more than 1,900 others injured by Israeli army airstrikes. Israel has said it has killed at least 160 fighters in Gaza.
According to Israeli officials, 12 people have lost their lives as a result of rocket attacks by Hamas and hundreds more have been injured.
Like the previous three wars between two bitter enemies, the last round of fighting ended without any resolution of the conflict. Israel claimed to have inflicted heavy damage on Hamas, but was again unable to stop the Islamic militant group’s rocket fire. Almost immediately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced accusations from his hard-line, right-wing base that he stopped the military operation too soon.
Hamas, the Islamic militant group that has vowed to destroy Israel, also claimed victory. But it now faces the major challenge of rebuilding in a territory already suffering from poverty, high unemployment and the spread of the coronavirus.
The ceasefire was also hailed by US President Joe Biden, who thanked the Egyptian government for its crucial role in reaching the agreement. President Joe Biden said Thursday that he sees a “genuine opportunity” toward the ultimate goal of building a lasting peace in the Middle East. He also said the White House was intensely committed to stopping the bloodshed. “I believe that the Palestinians and the Israelis deserve to live in safety and security, to enjoy an equal measure of freedom, prosperity and democracy.” said President Biden. “My administration will continue our calm, relentless diplomacy to achieve this goal.”
