Ceasefire holds between Israel and Gaza terror groups

Israel and the Islamic Jihad have reached a ceasefire to end the heaviest Gaza fighting in months that killed at least 34 Palestinians, including eight children, and paralysed parts of Israel.

Islamic Jihad spokesman Musab al-Berim said the Egyptian-brokered deal came into effect at 5.30am on Thursday. An Israeli military spokesman tweeted that the Gaza operation “is over”.

Some restrictions were lifted on residents of southern Israel and traffic returned to the streets of the Palestinian coastal territory.

Despite the ceasefire, a barrage of rockets was fired from Gaza into Israel hours later. Air raid sirens went off in several communities near the Gaza Strip.

Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Avichay Adraee did not confirm any such deal, listing on Twitter only Israeli accomplishments in the fighting, while Israel’s foreign minister said targeted killings of militants would continue.

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The fighting broke out early on Tuesday after Israel killed a senior commander of the Iranian-backed militant group who was said to have been behind a string of rocket attacks and who Israel said was believed to be planning a cross-border infiltration.

The rare targeted killing by Israel sparked the heaviest fighting with Gaza since May. Islamic Jihad fired 450 rockets towards Israel, which responded with scores of air strikes.

Gaza’s ruling Hamas militant group, which is much larger and more powerful than Islamic Jihad, stayed out of the latest escalation – an indication that it would be brief.

Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz said the policy of targeted killings had “proved itself” and would continue.

“Everyone who was a top military official, who was set to carry out and was involved in terror or rocket firing against Israel was eliminated,” he told Israeli Army Radio. “And we intend to continue with this.”

Defence minister Naftali Bennett said: “A terrorist who tries to harm Israeli citizens will not be able to sleep soundly, not in his home and not in his bed and not in any hiding place.”

Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said at least 23 targets were struck, and defended attacks on their private homes, saying Islamic Jihad commanders used their residences to store weapons, making them legitimate targets.

The rocket fire crippled life across southern Israel and in the country’s heartland in and around Tel Aviv, as non-stop air-raid sirens cancelled school and forced people to remain indoors.

At least three people were lightly wounded from shrapnel or shattered glass. Most rockets landed in open areas or were shot down by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system.

Much of Gaza resembled a ghost-town, with almost no vehicles on the roads except for ambulances evacuating the wounded.

Shortly after Mr al-Berim’s announcement, at least five rockets were fired out of Gaza, setting off sirens in southern Israel. It was not immediately clear who fired the rockets or whether the launches were intentional or misfires.

But Islamic Jihad said it was committed to ending the fighting, adding the fire was likely because word had not spread to all members about the halt to violence.