Israel-Palestine Ceasefire After 10 Days... Biden's Pressure Worked

Israeli Authorities Lift Border Restrictions
232 Dead and Over 1,700 Injured After Ten Days of Airstrikes

The Israeli government held a security-related ministers' meeting on the 20th (local time) and approved a ceasefire proposal with Hamas. Photo by AFP/ Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] On the 20th (local time), Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas agreed to a ceasefire, restoring peace to the Gaza Strip and across Israel.

The Israeli government announced on the 20th (local time) that it held a security-related ministerial meeting and approved the ceasefire plan with Hamas.

Israel and Hamas agreed, through mediation by the United Nations and Egypt, to enter into a mutual unconditional ceasefire starting at 2 a.m. on the 21st.

According to local media, Hamas also stated that it "accepted the ceasefire plan mediated by the UN and Egypt" and "received assurances from Israel regarding the Temple Mount and the Sheikh Jarrah area." The Temple Mount is a holy site common to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Sheikh Jarrah is a Palestinian settlement in East Jerusalem from which the Israeli government has ordered evictions.

Brigadier General Hidai Zilberman, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, said there were no airstrikes on the Gaza Strip after the ceasefire. The Israeli military also reported that although about 40 rockets were launched from Gaza on the night of the 20th before the ceasefire took effect, there were no attacks after 2 a.m. the following day.

Earlier, despite international mediation efforts, both sides, which had clashed militarily on the 10th, maintained a firm stance against a ceasefire. However, the decision for a ceasefire by the hardline Israeli and Palestinian leadership involved U.S. intervention. Foreign media reported that the situation changed rapidly after the Biden administration demanded a ceasefire.

According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, Khalil al-Hayya, a leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, said, "Today we declare victory in resistance against the enemies," and added, "Let us praise God and enjoy the joy of victory."

According to Gaza Strip health authorities, the large-scale airstrikes over ten days resulted in 232 deaths, including 65 children, and about 1,700 injuries.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military claimed that since the 10th, over 4,300 rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip, and they intercepted 90% of them.

They also announced that they killed 25 Hamas leaders in this airstrike and neutralized Hamas's major military facilities, including a 100 km long underground tunnel.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.