Toronto Star

Fragile hope as ceasefire is reached in Gaza conflict

Israel and Hamas both claim victory after 11 days of fighting that left more than 200 dead

- JOSEF FEDERMAN AND FARES AKRAM

JERUSALEM—Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire Thursday, halting a bruising 11-day war that caused widespread destructio­n in the Gaza Strip, brought life in much of Israel to a standstill and left more than 200 people dead.

At 2 a.m. local time, just as the ceasefire took effect, life returned to the streets of Gaza. People went out of their homes, some shouting “Allahu akbar” or whistling from balconies. Many fired in the air, celebratin­g the truce.

Like the three previous wars between the bitter enemies, the latest round of fighting ended inconclusi­vely. Israel claimed to inflict heavy damage on Hamas but once again was unable to halt the Islamic militant group’s non-stop rocket barrages. Almost immediatel­y, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced angry accusation­s from his hard-line, right-wing base that he stopped the operation too soon.

Hamas, the Islamic militant group sworn to Israel’s destructio­n, also claimed victory. But it now faces the daunting challenge of rebuilding in a territory already suffering from poverty, widespread unemployme­nt and a raging coronaviru­s outbreak.

Netanyahu’s office said his security cabinet had unanimousl­y accepted an Egyptian ceasefire proposal after recommenda­tions from Israel’s military chief and other top security officials. A statement boasted of “significan­t achievemen­ts in the operation, some of which are unpreceden­ted.”

It also included a veiled threat against Hamas. “The political leaders emphasized that the reality on the ground will determine the future of the campaign,” the statement said.

The fighting erupted on May 10, when Hamas militants in Gaza fired longrange rockets toward Jerusalem. The barrage came after days of clashes between Palestinia­n protesters and Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Heavy-handed police tactics at the compound, built on a site holy to Muslims and Jews, and the threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinia­ns by Jewish settlers had inflamed tensions.

The competing claims to Jerusalem lie at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinia­n conflict and have repeatedly triggered bouts of violence in the past.

Hamas and other militant groups fired over 4,000 rockets into Israel throughout the fighting, launching the projectile­s from civilian areas at Israeli cities. Dozens of projectile­s flew as far north as Tel Aviv, the country’s bustling commercial and cultural capital.

Israel, meanwhile, carried out hundreds of airstrikes targeting what it said was Hamas’ military infrastruc­ture, including a vast tunnel network.

At least 230 Palestinia­ns were killed, including 65 children and 39 women, with 1,710 people wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not break the numbers down into fighters and civilians. Twelve people in Israel, including a five-year-old boy and 16year-old girl, were killed.

The United States, Israel’s closest and most important ally, initially backed what it said was Israel’s right to self-defence against indiscrimi­nate rocket fire. But as the fighting dragged on and the death toll mounted, the Americans increasing­ly pressured Israel to stop the offensive.

In a rare public rift, Netanyahu on Wednesday briefly rebuffed a public call from U.S. President Joe Biden to wind things down, appearing determined to inflict maximum damage on Hamas in a war that could help save his political career.

But late Thursday, Netanyahu’s office announced the ceasefire agreement. Hamas quickly followed suit. Militants continued to launch sporadic rocket at Israel early Friday, before the 2 a.m. ceasefire took effect.

Thousands gathered Friday morning in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis outside the family house of Mohammed Dief, the shadowy Hamas commander who had ordered the rocket attacks. Supporters shouted “victory” and waved green Hamas flags.

In Washington, Biden hailed the ceasefire. “I believe we have a genuine opportunit­y to make progress, and I’m committed to working for it,” he said.

Biden said the U.S. was committed to helping Israel replenish its supply of intercepto­r missiles for its Iron Dome rocket-defence system and to working with the internatio­nally recognized Palestinia­n Authority — not Hamas — to provide humanitari­an aid to Gaza.

Netanyahu quickly came under heavy criticism from members of his hawkish, nationalis­t base. Gideon Saar, a former ally who now leads a small party opposed to the prime minister, called the ceasefire “embarrassi­ng.”

In a potentiall­y damaging developmen­t for the Israeli leader, the Palestinia­n militants claimed Netanyahu had agreed to halt further Israeli actions at Al Aqsa Mosque and to call off the planned evictions of Palestinia­ns in the nearby Sheikh Jarrah neighbourh­ood.

An Egyptian official said only that tensions in Jerusalem “will be addressed.” He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was discussing behind-the-scenes negotiatio­ns and provided no details.

Itamar Ben Gvir, head of the far-right Jewish Power party, tweeted that the ceasefire was “a grave surrender to terrorism and the dictates of Hamas.”

The ceasefire comes at a sensitive time for Netanyahu. In the wake of an inconclusi­ve election in March, Netanyahu failed to form a majority coalition in Parliament. His opponents now have until June 2 to form an alternativ­e government of their own.

The war greatly complicate­d the efforts of his opponents, who include both Jewish and Arab parties and were forced to suspend their negotiatio­ns in such a fraught environmen­t. But the inconclusi­ve outcome of the war could give them renewed momentum to restart those talks.

Meanwhile in Gaza, a Hamas spokesman, Abdelatif al-Qanou, said Israel’s announceme­nt was a “declaratio­n of defeat.” Nonetheles­s, the group said it would honour the deal, which was to officially go into effect at 2 a.m.

Ali Barakeh, an official with Islamic Jihad, a smaller group that fought alongside Hamas, said Israel’s declaratio­n of a truce was a defeat for Netanyahu and “a victory to the Palestinia­n people.”

Despite the claims, both groups appeared to have suffered significan­t losses in the fighting. Hamas and Islamic Jihad said at least 20 of their fighters were killed, while Israel said the number was at least 130 and probably higher.

Some 58,000 Palestinia­ns fled their homes, many of them seeking shelter in crowded United Nations schools at a time of a coronaviru­s outbreak.

Since the fighting began, Gaza’s infrastruc­ture, already weakened by a 14-year blockade, has rapidly deteriorat­ed.

Medical supplies, water and fuel for electricit­y are running low in the territory, on which Israel and Egypt imposed the blockade after Hamas seized power from the Palestinia­n Authority in 2007. Since then, Palestinia­n President Mahmoud Abbas has governed autonomous areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and has limited influence in Gaza.

Israeli attacks have also damaged at least 18 hospitals and clinics and destroyed one health facility, the World Health Organizati­on said. Nearly half of all essential drugs have run out.

Israeli bombing damaged over 50 schools across the territory, according to advocacy group Save the Children, destroying at least six. While repairs are done, education will be disrupted for nearly 42,000 children.

 ?? MAHMUD HAMS AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES ?? Palestinia­ns in Gaza City celebrate the ceasefire brokered by Egypt between Israel and Hamas early Friday.
MAHMUD HAMS AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES Palestinia­ns in Gaza City celebrate the ceasefire brokered by Egypt between Israel and Hamas early Friday.

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