A ceasefire agreement mediated by Egypt between Israel and the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) came into effect at 10pm on Saturday, after five days of violence.
Between Tuesday 9th May and Saturday 13th May, 1,468 rockets were fired towards Israel by terrorists in the Gaza Strip, of which approximately 290 rockets fell short and exploded in Gaza, harming Palestinians.
Israeli National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and expressed the “appreciation of the State of Israel for Egypt’s intensive efforts to secure a ceasefire”. He also stressed that “quiet will be met with quiet”.
In a televised press statement, PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah thanked Iran, Hezbollah, Qatar, and Egypt for their support during the conflict.
One Israeli and one Gazan on a working permit in Israel were killed in the rocket attacks and at least 71 injured.
According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, 33 Gazans were killed and 151 injured in Israeli airstrikes against PIJ targets and in explosions caused by misfired PIJ rockets. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that 21 Palestinian militants were killed during the five-day operation, including six senior PIJ commanders. 10 civilians were reportedly killed, including at least three children killed from PIJ rockets falling short in the Gaza Strip.
Conservative MPs including CFI Vice-Chairman Andrew Percy MP and CFI Officer Matthew Offord MP raised concerns about the recent attacks against Israel in Written Parliamentary Questions this week.
Jerusalem Day was marked in Israel on Thursday, including an annual flag march in the city celebrating its reunification following the Six-Day War in 1967. The Hamas terror group threatened to disrupt the march, with senior Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil stating: “The Zionist Flag March will not pass, and the response will inevitably come”. The march took place relatively peacefully, but a minority of Jewish extremists clashed with Palestinians and harassed journalists, with some reportedly singing racist songs and chanting anti-Palestinian slogans. Israeli police said that several participants were detained for provoking Palestinians.
