The Islamic Jihad has declared a ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire came into operation last night at 11.30 p.m. Ihsan Ataya, a high-ranking leader of the terror organization, said so in a press release.
A spokeswoman for the Israeli army confirmed that no projectiles were fired from the Gaza Strip in the night from Monday to Tuesday.
After Israeli soldiers killed members of the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad on Sunday, the organization fired rockets and mortars at Israel. The members of the Islamic Jihad were installing an explosive on a heavily guarded border fence.
Egypt acted as a mediator in the conflict. The last escalation came a week before the Israeli parliamentary elections, the third in less than a year.
More than ten years ago, Israel tightened the blockade of the Gaza Strip, supported by Egypt. Both mention safety considerations to close off the area. As a result, around 2 million people live in particularly difficult circumstances.
