Hamas announces ceasefire with Israel: détente in Gaza Strip?



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northAfter intense mediation from Qatar, the ruling Hamas in the Gaza Strip announced a new ceasefire with Israel on Monday night. The office of the Gaza chief of Islamist Hamas, Jihiha al-Sinwar, announced that a de-escalation and a “cessation of the Zionist aggression against our people” had been agreed. For its part, the Israeli civil administration for the occupied territories announced that the Kerem Shalom border post, which was closed in response to the attacks, would be reopened and fuel deliveries would again be allowed in the Gaza Strip.

According to Palestinian media reports, Qatari negotiator Mohammed al-Emadi had recently traveled between the Gaza Strip and Israel to negotiate a new ceasefire. Egyptian mediators also participated. Sinwar’s announcement said that several projects would be announced as part of the calm effort. These should improve the situation of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and ease the consequences of the Crown crisis.

After the start of the crown pandemic, Palestinian militants largely refrained from attacking Israel. After months of lull, tensions between Hamas and the Israeli military had recently escalated: Since early August, the Israeli military has been attacking targets in the Gaza Strip almost every day, repeatedly picking up balloons with incendiary and explosive devices and , more rarely, rockets. Israeli territory blew up. According to the fire department, the incendiary devices have already started more than 400 fires in southern Israel.

Israel recently imposed new restrictions, including halting the import of fuel in the coastal area and blocking the fishing zone off the Gaza Strip. As early as 2007, the country tightened the blockade of the Gaza Strip, which now has the support of Egypt. Both countries justify the measure with security considerations. Around two million people live in very poor conditions on the Mediterranean coast. Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, and the EU.

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