Cease-fire reached to end Gaza fighting

Israel and the militant Islamic Jihad group in Gaza reached a cease-fire yesterday.

The two sides sought to end the heaviest fighting in Gaza in months that killed at least 34 Palestinians and paralyzed parts of Israel.

Islamic Jihad spokesman Musab al-Berim said the Egyptian-brokered deal went into effect this morning.  

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.

Al-Berim said the cease-fire was based on a list of demands presented by his group late last night.

This included a halt to Israeli targeted killings of the group's leaders.



An Israeli military spokesman did not confirm any such deal, listing only Israeli accomplishments in the fighting.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the policy of targeted killings had “proved itself” and that it would continue, despite the word of the cease-fire.

The fighting broke out early on Tuesday after Israel killed a senior commander of the Iranian-backed militant group. The group was said to be 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 militants since May. Islamic Jihad fired some 400 rockets towards Israel, while Israel responded with scores of airstrikes.