Israel-Gaza: Ceasefire holds overnight after days of violence - BBC

A ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip appears to be holding.

The Egypt-brokered truce followed three days of violence with Israel targeting the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and militants firing rockets into Israel.

On Monday, Israel began lifting its blockade of the Strip, allowing the first fuel tanks to enter.

The latest violence began with attacks by Israel on sites in the Gaza Strip, which its military said was in response to threats from a militant group.

A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they had information about 35 Palestinian deaths: "11 of them were uninvolved civilian casualties, including the wives of the terror group's commanders in the south - victims of the IDF attacks.".

Gen Kochav said 1,100 projectiles were fired from the Gaza Strip during the flare-up, with 200 landing inside Gaza.

He said more Palestinians had died from those rockets that exploded inside the Strip than from IDF fire, and added that Israel would investigate the deaths of civilians, including children.

The ceasefire was mediated by Egypt, which has acted as an intermediary between Israel and Gaza in the past.

But as it came into effect late on Sunday, the Israeli military confirmed it was striking Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) targets in Gaza, in response to rockets fired just before.

Humanitarian aid started arriving as the major crossings into the Strip, closed six days ago, were reopened, Israel said.

In November 2019, Israel and PIJ fought a five-day conflict following the killing by Israel of a PIJ commander who Israel said had been planning an imminent attack.

Israel said 25 of the Palestinians killed were militants, including those hit while preparing to launch rockets.