Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad reach ceasefire agreement

Israel's Iron Dome system intercepts a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip on May 13.

According to Reuters, the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad officially took effect at 10 p.m. on May 13 (02 a.m. on May 14, Vietnam time). The agreement ended the worst cross-border fighting since the 10-day war in 2021.

"Egypt announced that the Palestinian and Israeli sides have reached a ceasefire," Reuters quoted a obtained document.

"Both sides will abide by the ceasefire, which will include immediately ceasing the targeting of civilians, individuals and demolition of houses when the ceasefire comes into effect," the statement said.

Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for Cairo's efforts, according to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

"A ceasefire will be exchanged for peace. If Israel is attacked or threatened, it will continue to do what it must do to defend itself," the statement said.

Iron Dome defends against rockets from Gaza, lights up Israeli skies

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement also confirmed the deal. "We declare that we accept the Egyptian announcement and we will abide by it as long as Israel also abides by it," said the group's spokesman Dawoud Shehab.

Palestinians poured into the streets of Gaza after the fighting stopped. Earlier, as the ceasefire was being finalized, both sides continued to exchange fire. Air raid sirens were heard as far away as the outskirts of Tel Aviv and the Israeli military announced that it had struck Islamic Jihad targets in response to rocket fire.

Despite the welcome news of the ceasefire, some Gaza residents, weary of the constant attacks, fear another round of fighting will soon break out.

Israel launched its latest wave of airstrikes early on May 9, saying they were targeting Islamic Jihad commanders who had been planning attacks in Israel.

In response, the Iran-backed Islamic Jihad movement fired more than 1,000 rockets, forcing Israelis to run into bomb shelters.

During five days of fighting, Israel killed six senior Islamic Jihad commanders and destroyed several military facilities.

At least 10 civilians, including women and children, were also killed in Gaza during the fighting. Two people, an Israeli woman and a Palestinian laborer, were killed by Palestinian rockets in Israel.

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