Fragile Israel-Hamas Cease-fire Met with Cheers, Criticism

WASHINGTON, KOMPAS.com - A fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas began early Friday morning, returning an uneasy calm to Gaza and Israel.

Thousands of residents took to the streets of Gaza as the cease-fire took hold at 2 a.m. local time. Young men waved Palestinian and Hamas flags, passed out sweets, honked horns and set off fireworks.

Spontaneous celebrations also broke out in east Jerusalem and across the occupied West Bank.

There was mixed reaction, however, from residents in the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Friday morning. Some criticized the government for such a hasty move, as they called it, others praised the action as a necessary and positive one in the interest of peace.

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The death toll from the 11 days of fighting stands at 230 in Gaza, including 65 children, according to local health officials there, and 12 in Israel, its authorities said.

The United Nations says more than 72,000 Palestinians have been displaced in Gaza.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed him Thursday that Israel "has agreed to a mutual, unconditional cease-fire" with the Hamas militant group.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken posted on Twitter that he “will be traveling to the region in the coming days” and will meet with “Israeli, Palestinian, and regional leaders.”

I spoke with @IsraelMFA @Gabi_Ashkenazi about efforts to end the violence in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza, which has claimed the lives of Israeli and Palestinian civilians including children. The U.S. expects to see de-escalation on the path to a ceasefire.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 20, 2021

Cease-fire negotiations

Hamas has fired rockets at Israeli cities from Gaza since May 10, for what it said were rights abuses committed by Israel against Palestinians in Jerusalem.

Israel retaliated with targeted artillery and airstrikes on leaders of Hamas and the group's infrastructure. The Israelis faced international condemnation for blowing up high-rise buildings and striking refugee camps and other targets, which caused extensive civilian casualties.

"We held intensive high-level discussions, hour by hour, literally," said Biden of what he called U.S. "quiet diplomacy" to reach an agreement.

Adi Vaizel looks at damage to his house after it was hit by a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip this week, in Ashkelon, Israel, May 20, 2021. News reports said Israel's security cabinet and Hamas on Thursday had approved a tentative cease-fire.

The U.S. president said he had spoken with Netanyahu six times over the past 11 days as part of his administration's diplomatic efforts behind the scenes to achieve a halt in the hostilities.

Biden said he also spoke Thursday with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.