The decision points to a way out of this conflict that has been unprecedented for several years between Israel and Hamas. Ten days after the start of the fighting, which has already claimed more than 240 lives, most of them Palestinians, Israel and the Islamist movement approved a ceasefire on Thursday, May 20. This truce in the Gaza Strip, this Palestinian micro-territory of two million inhabitants under Israeli blockade, is due to begin at 2 a.m. on Friday, or 1 hour in Paris.
“The (security) cabinet unanimously accepted the recommendation of all security officials (…) to accept the Egyptian initiative of an unconditional bilateral ceasefire”Israeli authorities said in a statement. In the Gaza Strip, Hamas confirmed the entry into force of this truce at 2 a.m. on Friday.
The announcement comes after US President Joe Biden on Wednesday urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to work towards de-escalation, amid attempts at mediation by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.
Military escalation
After a few hours of respite in the Gaza Strip, strikes intensified in the afternoon, sending clouds of smoke and debris into the sky as ambulances raced through the enclave, reporters say from AFP.
Five people were killed in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, bringing to 232 the number of Palestinians who have died in the enclave since the conflict began on May 10. At the end of the afternoon, a new barrage of rockets targeted southern Israel, prompting residents to take refuge in bomb shelters.
