“Islamic Jihad and Israel Agree to Ceasefire After 1000 Missiles Fired”

Israel and the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad have agreed to a ceasefire that will take effect at 10 p.m. local time (9 p.m. Dutch time). The two sides came to an agreement through Egyptian mediation. A leader of the Islamic Jihad has confirmed the ceasefire on Egyptian television, AP news agency reports. Israel has not yet responded.

Shortly before the ceasefire was due to take effect, Israel reported an eruption of Palestinian rocket fire toward southern and central Israel, while Israel said it was attacking targets in Gaza. Even after the deadline passed, rockets were fired at Israel, report Israeli media.

The Israeli army and Islamic Jihad militants have been attacking each other in recent times. Yesterday, Israeli warplanes bombed targets in the Gaza Strip, while militants fired rockets at Jerusalem and southern Israel.

Violence escalated early this month when Palestinian Khader Adnan died in a Jerusalem prison after an 87-day hunger strike. Adnan, 45, was from Jenin in the occupied West Bank and was a Palestinian activist and prominent member of the militant Palestinian group Islamic Jihad.

After Adnan’s death, militant Palestinian groups shelled Israeli targets and the Israeli army bombed targets in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. Since the shelling began, more than 1,000 rockets have been fired at Israel, most of which have been intercepted, according to the Israeli military and reporters on the ground. It is not clear how many attacks there have been on the Gaza Strip.