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An Israeli tank along the border with the Gaza Strip, July 20, 2018 / AFP
One cease-fire with Israel announced by Hamas is generally respected on Saturday in the Gaza Strip, in the aftermath of an escalation of violence that claimed the lives of four Palestinians and one Israeli soldier.
Israel did not confirmed the cease-fire agreement, which came into effect shortly after midnight, but bombing of Gaza has stopped, and no Palestinian rocket fire to Israel has been reported, according to Israeli and Palestinian sources.
The Israeli army, however, said that it fired back Saturday morning, by firing a tank at a Hamas military post, into an attempt to infiltrate Israel from the northern Gaza Strip. No injuries were reported.
"Thanks to the efforts of Egypt and the United Nations, we have reached (an agreement) to return to calm, between the occupying (Israeli) and the Palestinian factions" Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in the night.
Last week, after a major confrontation between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement had already announced a ceasefire negotiated by Egypt. Israel also refused to confirm the agreement, while ending its attacks.
– "Detention" –
According to Israeli radio, the Israeli government does not want to give the impression that it negotiates with Hamas, although indirect talks are taking place through Egypt and the UN
Another Hamas official speaking under the guise of Anonymity told AFP on Saturday that the new agreement includes "the cessation of all forms of military escalation", such as Israeli air raids or Hamas rocket fire.
On the other hand, this official pointed out that incendiary kites and balloons, thrown from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory and having fired more than 2,600 hectares in recent weeks, were not included in the agreement.
The Israeli Minister Defense Avigdor Lieberman has multiplied in recent days the of a large-scale operation if Hamas did not stop the launch of these incendiary devices.
On Friday evening, shortly before the announcement of the ceasefire by Hamas, Mr. Lieberman said he to be met with UN Special Envoy for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov who called on Israel and Hamas to restrain
"Everyone in the Gaza Strip must move away from the precipice. Not next week. Not tomorrow. IMMEDIATELY, "Mladenov wrote on Twitter.
On Saturday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres" asked Hamas and Palestinian militants to stop firing rockets and launching incendiary balloons. not to provoke further along the line of separation "between Israel and the Gaza Strip." And Israel must show restraint to avoid igniting the situation. "
– Reinforced Blockade – [19659004OnFridaytwoPalestinianswerekillednearKhanYounisinthesouthoftheenclavebyIsraelistrikesagainstaHamasobservationpostaccordingtotheGazanMinistryofHealthwhileathirdwaskilledinabombingraidRafahandafourthwerekilledbyIsraeligunfireneartheborderareaeastofGazaCitythesourcesaid
Bombardem Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, Khan Younis, 20 July 2018 / AFP
The Israeli army announced the death of one of its soldiers on Friday, shot dead by Palestinian gunfire along the border. . This is the first Israeli soldier killed near Gaza since the war that pitted Israel against Hamas in power in Gaza in 2014.
The situation in Gaza has been particularly volatile since the beginning, on March 30, of a Palestinian protest movement on the border with the Jewish state to protest the Israeli blockade of that territory. At least 149 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army in Gaza since that date.
This Palestinian enclave, wedged between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean, is under a strict Israeli land, sea and air blockade imposed by Israel for more than ten years
The Israeli Ministry of Defense has suspended oil and gas deliveries via Kerem Shalom until Sunday, the only crossing point for goods between Israel and the Palestinian enclave.
Last week, Israel announced the closure of this crossing point for a number of goods, with Hamas denouncing a "crime against humanity."
Israel also reduced the sea area open to fishermen in Gaza.
The strengthening of the blockade intensifies pressure on Hamas in a territory where some 80% of the two million people depend on aid, according to the World Bank.
afp
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