Tenuous Gaza truce holds as Israel, Palestinians break conflict
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Loading... - RAFAEL MOUTINHO
- 15 May 2023
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Palestinians and supporters of the Islamic Jihad group celebrate in the street after Palestinian factions and Israel reached a cease-fire agreement, Gaza City, Palestine, May 13, 2023. (AFP Photo)
A recent violent conflict in the Gaza Strip resulted in the loss of lives and injuries on both sides. The conflict began when Israeli jets took down three top commanders from the Islamic Jihad group in response to rocket launches from Gaza. The region was at risk of becoming involved in another all-out war, but an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire stopped the fighting. While the cease-fire has brought a sense of relief to the people affected, it does not address the underlying issues that fuel the ongoing conflicts between the two groups.
Hamas, the de facto government in Gaza, has taken a back seat to the more ideological group Islamic Jihad in recent conflicts with Israel. Israeli officials expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the latest fighting, having eliminated many of Islamic Jihad's top brass in pinpoint strikes based on solid intelligence. Despite this, at least 13 civilians were among the casualties in Gaza, and Israel has faced criticism from rights groups for its actions. Hamas has tried to keep the conflict with Israel under control, while Islamic Jihad has taken the lead in recent rounds of fighting.
The conflict did not address the major causes of tension, including Israeli policies in the occupied West Bank, Hamas and Islamic Jihad's large weapons arsenals, and the ongoing blockade of Gaza.