Hamas, Israel agree on Gaza ceasefire

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Hamas said on Saturday it had agreed a truce with Israel in the Gaza Strip, a day after clashes killed an Israeli soldier and four Palestinians along the border.

Israel did not confirm the deal announced by Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas, which went into effect around midnight Friday.

Since then there have been no reports of Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave or of mortar fire from Gaza toward Israel.

"With Egyptian and United Nations efforts it has been agreed to return to the era of calm between (Israel) and Palestinian factions," said Fawzi Barhoum, spokesman for the Hamas Islamist group that controls Gaza.

He gave no details of the deal.

Israel's army and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office declined to confirm a truce was reached.

"All we can say is that there have been no incidents or Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip since the last wave of airstrikes on Friday night," a military spokeswoman told AFP.

A picture taken on July 20, 2018 shows tear gas canisters fired by Israeli forces landing amidst protesters. /VCG Photo

Similarly, later last Saturday, a ceasefire was announced by Hamas after a day-long severe exchange of fire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since the 2014 war.

If confirmed, the ceasefire would also be the third ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to be brokered by Egypt this year.

Friday's clashes

On Friday, Palestinian gunmen killed an Israeli soldier and the Israeli military launched dozens of strikes that killed four Palestinians, including three Hamas fighters. At least 120 Gazans were wounded.

The soldier was the first member of Israel’s army to be killed on the Gaza front since a 2014 war between Israel and Hamas, a military spokesman said.

Palestinian Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh gestures near the border with Israel east Gaza City on July 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

During the flare-up which lasted several hours, the Israeli military said its jets and tanks hit 68 Hamas targets, and destroyed “buildings and infrastructures and revoked significant military and command and control capabilities.”

Weekly clashes

Weekly clashes at the Israel-Gaza border have kept tensions high for months. Demonstrations and clashes on the frontier have seen at least 149 Palestinians killed since March.

Protest organizers say the demonstrations aim to press demands such as for a right to lands lost to Israel in the 1948 war of its foundation and for an Israeli-Egyptian blockade to ease.

Israel says Hamas has been orchestrating the demonstrations, dubbed The Great March of Return, to provide cover for militants’ cross-border attacks. Hamas denies this.

Protesters use slingshots as Israeli forces intervene to disperse demonstrators taking part in the 'Great March of Return' demonstration near Israel-Gaza border in Rafah, Gaza on July 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008.

The United Nations urged all sides to step "back from the brink" after months of increasing tensions.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters