- Israel and militant forces in the Gaza Strip were engulfed in a wave of deadly violence over the weekend, resulting in the deaths of 25 Palestinians and four Israeli civilians.
- The conflict is the worst fighting to break out between Israelis and Palestinians since war in 2014.
- The two sides agreed to a cease-fire, a welcome relief for residents on both sides caught in the violence.
The deadly round of fighting between Israel and militant forces in Gaza Strip that erupted over the weekend has quieted. On Monday, the Israeli military lifted civilian restrictions.
The violence, which reportedly began on Friday after two Israeli soldiers were shot and wounded by militants, is the worst fighting to break out between Israelis and Palestinians since war in 2014. Israel responded, killing two militants, and Gaza responded in turn with waves of rockets.
The reported cease-fire, indicating a temporary peace, comes as welcome relief for residents on both sides. “The Islamic Jihad militant group, which Israel accused of instigating the latest violence, confirmed that a ‘mutual and concurrent’ truce had been brokered by Egypt,” according to The Associated Press.
The AP reported that 25 Palestinians, including militants and civilians, and four Israeli civilians, were killed in the violence. According to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), almost 700 rockets rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israeli civilians. Israel responded with airstrikes on 350 militant targets inside Gaza,The Washington Post reported, and deployed tanks and infantry forces.
Read the article by Nicole Einbinder in Business Insider Australia.