In only three days of confrontation, 44 Palestinians, including fifteen children, were killed in the exchange of fire between Israel and the Islamic Jihad. Sunday, Mohammed Al-Hindi, leader of the Islamic Jihad, has announced that he has accepted a truce agreement brokered by Egypt. In the evening, Israel confirmed that it had agreed to a ceasefire from Sunday in 11:30 p.m. local (10:30 p.m. in Paris).
1What is the balance of the last three days?
On Friday August 5, the Israeli army announced that it had killed 15 Islamic Jihad soldiers, including Tayssir Al-Jabari, one of the leaders of the armed group. According to a latest report from the Ministry of Health in Gaza, “44 Palestinians fell as martyrs, including 15 children” and “360 were injured”.
In retaliation, on Friday August 5, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, Al-Quds, claimed to have fired “more than 100 rockets” from the Gaza Strip to Israel. The Israeli army has identified 70 projectiles fired from Gaza during the day. In total, between August 5 and 7, more than 1,100 rockets were fired from Gaza, according to the israeli army. VSremoved israeli, 3 people injured by rocket fire, rescuers say.
2What does this truce agreement say?
Facilitated by Egyptian mediator, Israel and Islamic Jihad pledge to end hostilities starting August 7 at 11:30 p.m. local time. The truce agreement also provides “Egypt’s commitment to work for the release of two prisoners” of the Islamic Jihad, currently detained in Israel. He is a leader of the Islamic Jihad, Bassem al-Saadi, arrested on August 1, and another official, Khalil Awawdeh, who has been held in an Israeli prison since December 2021.
3Did the Israeli army break the truce?
Minutes after the truce came into effect, the Israeli army said in a statement Sunday evening that it had carried out strikes on Islamic Jihad positions in Gaza, “en response to rockets fired into Israeli territory”.
Israel, however, quickly recanted, claiming to have carried out its last strikes against Islamic Jihad in Gaza five minutes before the truce took effect, “at 11:25 p.m.”. “It was the last strike by the army before a ceasefire scheduled for 11:30 p.m.”assured the Israeli army.
4Why is this agreement fragile?
At present, with no party reporting a major breach of the agreement, the truce appears to be holding. However, it remains precarious. The Islamic Jihad has warned that he reserved “the right to respond to any [nouvelle] assault” Israeli. Like the office of Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, pointing out that Israel “reserves the right to respond strongly to any violation”.
The UN envoy for the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, hailed the truce agreement on Twitterbut remained cautious, recalling “that the situation remains very fragile”. “I urge all parties to respect the ceasefire.” did he declare.
