Israel and Palestinian militants have been locked in a deadly conflict for five days, with the Islamic Jihad militant group launching dozens of rockets and the Israeli military pounding targets inside the Gaza Strip. The violence has claimed the lives of at least 33 Palestinians, including six children, and 10 civilians, with many more wounded. The Israeli military has conducted repeated air strikes on Gaza, killing several senior Islamic Jihad commanders, as well as destroying command centers and rocket-launching sites.
Despite the escalating violence, Egyptian officials have announced a ceasefire agreement that will take effect at 10 pm GMT. The state-run Egyptian TV channel reported that Egypt had brokered the deal, which will mark a significant breakthrough in the conflict. Egyptian officials have confirmed the agreement, which comes after a previous ceasefire attempt failed.
As the conflict raged on, Israeli officials maintained that they would continue to respond to Palestinian rocket fire with military action, while Palestinian militants vowed to continue their attacks until their demands were met. The Israeli military has also conducted operations in the occupied West Bank, sparking clashes with Palestinian protesters and leaving at least two Palestinians dead and several others wounded.
Hamas militants
The conflict has drawn regional condemnation, with many diplomats and world leaders urging restraint and calling for a peaceful resolution. The situation has also highlighted the long-simmering tensions between Israel and Palestine, which have escalated dramatically under Israel’s most right-wing government in history. The conflict has also underscored the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, where poverty and unemployment are rampant, and civilian infrastructure is often targeted in Israeli military operations.
