Gaza City: Thousands of Palestinians celebrated on Friday after a ceasefire took effect in Gaza with Israel’s declaration. Many of them said the war proved costly but it was a clear victory for the Islamic militant group Hamas. At the same time, Israel warned sternly that if any further hostile action was taken, it would respond with “renewed vigor”. The eleven-day war has killed more than 200 people, mostly Palestinians.
The war has caused widespread devastation in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, which is already a pauper region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Friday in strong words that if any further attack was made, he would be responded “with renewed vigor”.
He said, “If Hamas thinks that we can tolerate rocket attacks, then it is wrong.” If any further attack is made, it will be responded to with renewed vigor. ”
Netanyahu is facing criticism from the people of his country who are saying that he has declared a ceasefire in a hurry. The Israeli Prime Minister said that his forces have caused maximum damage to Hamas and there has been very little loss of life in Israel. Netanyahu said that more than 200 militants have been killed in Israeli attacks, including 25 senior Hamas commanders.
He said that more than 100 kilometers of tunnels of militants were targeted. The ceasefire led to a clash between Palestinian protesters and the Israeli police after the prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque complex. It is not clear what caused the clash. The clashes at the same place earlier this month were the main reason for the 11-day fighting. At the same time, there were clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers in some parts of the West Bank.
Thousands of Palestinians left for the streets to celebrate as the ceasefire came into effect at two o’clock in the wee hours of local time. He distributed sweets. Some people started chanting ‘Alla Hu Akbar’ loudly and started whistling from their balcony. Many people fired in the air. Many people carried Palestine and Hamas flags in their hands during this time.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 243 Palestinians have been killed and 1,910 injured, including 66 children and 39 women. At the same time, 12 people including a five-year-old child and a 16-year-old girl have been killed in Israel. Hamas also claimed victory after the ceasefire, but now faces the daunting challenge of rebuilding the region beset by unemployment and the Kovid epidemic. Relief workers in Gaza are still receiving the bodies from the piles of debris. The fighting began on 10 May when Hamas launched a series of rocket attacks on Israel.
Meanwhile, Palestinian militants have claimed that Netanyahu has agreed not to take any further action at the Al Aqsa Mosque and stop plans to expel the Palestinians from the nearby Sheikh Jarrah area. Hamas’ claim could make it difficult for Netanyahu in Israel. Meanwhile, an Egyptian official said that no further action at the Al Aqsa Mosque and stopping the plan to expel the Palestinians from the Sheikh Jarrah area would only solve the tension in Jerusalem. In the wake of the war, about 58,000 Palestinians took refuge in the United Nations packed schools amid the Kovid epidemic.
Thousands of people have now returned to their homes after the ceasefire. Meanwhile, World Health Organization (WHO) spokeswoman Margaret Harris said 30 health establishments in Palestine have been destroyed where medical aid is needed. At the same time, Fabrizio Carboni, regional director for West Asia affairs in the International Red Cross Committee, said that there are hundreds of armaments in Gaza that are not torn and medical supplies are an urgent need there.