'Ceasefire reached' between Israel and Gaza militants

Israel and armed groups in Gaza have reached a ceasefire after a surge in cross-border violence, according to a Palestinian official.

The truce was secured by Egyptian and international efforts, said a Palestinian official who spoke to Reuters anonymously.

Image: Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip

It follows an escalation in the violence, with Israel launching "the hardest strikes" against Gaza since 2014, according to a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel said some 100 rockets were launched from Gaza at southern Israel.

A spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister did not immediately comment on the ceasefire.

Strikes on Saturday morning by Israeli jets have left smoke billowing above the Gaza Strip, and militants allied with Hamas stating it fired rockets across the border in return.

In a statement, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said they had launched strikes against multiple militant sites in Gaza in response to renewed violence along the border.

It said its jets targeted a Hamas tunnel in the southern portion of the Gaza Strip early on Saturday morning, alongside Hamas military compounds.

Image: Palestinian rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel

The violent exchanges have left two people killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, with 12 more injured. Three Israelis were injured by a rocket which landed in Sderot.

Image: Palestinian protesters throw rocks during clashes with Israeli security forces

Mr Netanyahu said: "The IDF has struck Hamas with the hardest blow since Operation Protective Edge and we will increase the strength of our attacks as necessary".

Image: Smoke plumes rise following an Israeli air strike in Gaza

Hamas said it fired rockets to discourage Israel from taking further action.

Such rocket attacks have become a regular feature of the asymmetric conflict between Hamas and Israel, driving the IDF to develop the Iron Dome defence system to intercept and destroy incoming rockets.

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Image: Buildings were damaged by the Israeli air strikes

According to the IDF, a military officer was lightly wounded by a grenade thrown at the border on Friday.

Image: Israel's Iron Dome defence system can intercept and destroy rockets

On the same day, a 15-year-old Palestinian boy was shot dead as he reportedly attempted to climb the fence into Israel.

Original Article

World

March 16, 2019