Israel’s security cabinet voted in favor of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported. According to Israeli media reports, the ceasefire may take effect from 2 am on May 21.
Israeli army officials told security cabinet ministers that the military operation in the Gaza Strip had achieved its intended goal. “[Движение] “Hamas” has been stopped, it has suffered significant losses, “- said one of the representatives of the army of the Jewish state during the meeting.
Later, a Hamas spokesman confirmed to Reuters that the ceasefire decision was made by both sides of the conflict, it is intended to end the 11-day military confrontation.
The decision to cease fire was confirmed in the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The office said in a statement that the Israeli authorities “accepted Egypt’s initiative for a mutual ceasefire without preconditions, the time for the ceasefire to take effect will be set later.”
The escalation of tensions between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs began after the eviction of several Arab families began in early May in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in accordance with an Israeli court ruling. This led to protests in the area, which escalated into fighting between the Israeli army and the radical movement Hamas. The number of victims of the conflict has approached 300, the majority of those killed are Palestinians.
On May 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to end the violence. Other world leaders have made similar calls earlier. In particular, on May 19, US President Joe Biden held a conversation with Netanyahu, during which he spoke in favor of a “significant de-escalation” of the conflict in the region.
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