Ceasefire between Israel and Islamic Jihad after five days of fighting

A leer of Islamic Jih militant group in Gaza says a cease-fire has been reached with Israel to end five days of heavy fighting.

Moham al-Hindi told Al Kahera Wal Nas channel that Egyptian-brokered deal would go into effect at 10 pm local time (1900 GMT).

“w, this agreement has been reached thanks to continuous Egyptian effort. We appreciate this effort,” he said.

As he spoke, Israel reported continued rocket fire out of Gaza Strip. re was Israeli comment on cease-fire anuncement. But Egyptian station h earlier reported a deal was imminent. A similar anuncement last week by Egypt unraveled amid continued fighting.

fighting has killed 33 Palestinians inside Gaza, including at least 13 civilians. Two people were killed by rocket fire in Israel, including an 80-year-old Israeli woman and a Palestinian man from Gaza who h a permit to work in Israel.

Al-Qahera satellite channel said Egypt h brokered a cease-fire and it would go into effect at 10 pm (1900 GMT). Egypt often serves as a broker between warring sides. Egyptian officials, speaking on condition of anymity to discuss behind--scenes efforts, confirmed an agreement was in place.

signs of progress came as fighting continued. Last week, ar Egyptian effort to forge a truce unraveled.

Earlier Saturday, shrapnel from a Palestinian rocket that slammed into an agricultural community in Israel's sourn Negev desert killed a Palestinian labourer who h been working inside Israel, Israeli defense officials said. A second Palestinian laborer was bly wounded.

re were immediate reports of casualties Saturday from Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, where so far 34 Palestinians have been killed, at least 13 of m civilians, according to Palestinian health officials. Over 147 have been wounded. But residents said homes of people uninvolved in fighting h been struck.

In a reminder of combustible situation in occupied West Bank, Israeli military raided Balata refugee camp near rrn city of Nablus, sparking a firefight that killed two Palestinians. In a separate incident near rrn city of Jenin, Israeli police said y shot and killed a suspected Palestinian assailant who ran toward soldiers wielding a knife.

Meanwhile, Israeli military Saturday bombed an apartment belonging to Islamic Jih commander Mohammed Abu Al Atta, among or targets including rocket launchers, it said.

Islamic Jih militants fired several barrs of rockets toward sourn Israel, where tens of thousands of Israelis were instructed to remain close to safe rooms and bomb shelters. Hundreds of residents near border were evacuated to hotels farr rth.

Islamic Jih promised a furr onslaught. “As assassinations and bombing of apartments and safe houses continue, Palestinian resistance will renew its rocket fire ... to emphasize continuation of confrontation,” group said. Mortar shells fired by Palestinian militants crashed into Erez crossing between Gaza and Israel, Israeli civil defense body said, sharing foot of a fiery explosion at main passway into Israel.

Israeli officials told media that Egyptian-led efforts to broker a cease-fire were still underway but that Israel has ruled out conditions presented by Islamic Jih in talks. Israel has said only that quiet will be answered with quiet, while Islamic Jih has been reportedly pressing Israel to agree to halt targeted assassinations, among or demands.

Israel's military chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said Israel h me “significant achievements” throughout fighting and that Islamic Jih's continued fire “enables us to continue to make furr achievements.” “We are prepared to continue targeted strikes and striking in a precise and increasing manner,” he ded.

hostilities erupted on Tuesday when Israel targeted and killed three senior Islamic Jih commanders who it said were responsible for firing rockets toward country last week. At least 10 civilians, including women, young children and uninvolved neighbours were killed in those initial strikes, which drew regional condemnation.

Over past few days, Israel has conducted more airstrikes, killing or senior Islamic Jih commanders and destroying ir command centers and rocket-launching sites.

On Saturday, Palestinians ventured out to assess dam wrought by Israeli warplanes and salv whatever y could. One man carefully pulled documents out from under rubble. Ar carried away a mattress.

Four homes in densely populated residential neighbourhoods were reduced to dust in pre-dawn attacks. Israeli military alleged targeted homes belonged to or were used by Islamic Jih militants. residents denied army's claims and said y h idea why ir homes were targeted.

“We have rocket launching ps at all. This is a residential area,” said Awni Obaid, beside debris of what was his three-story house in central town of Deir al-Balah.

nearby house of his relative, Jeh Obaid, was also leveled. He h been standing some hundred meters away when his apartment was bombed.

“I felt like vomiting because of dust,” he said.

"This is extraordinary hatred. y claim y don't strike at children, but what we see is craziness, destruction.” Islamic Jih has retaliated by firing over 1,200 rockets toward sourn and central Israel, according to military. On Friday, group escalated its assaults and fired rockets toward Jerusalem, setting off air raid sirens in Israeli settlements south of contested capital.

Most of rockets have fallen inside Gaza, landed in open areas or been intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome aerial defense system. But a rocket on Thursday penetrated missile defenses and sliced through a house in central city of Rehovot, killing an 80-year-old woman and wounding several ors.

Hamas, larger militant group that has fought four wars against Israel since seizing control of Gaza in 2007, has praised Islamic Jih's strikes but remained on sidelines, according to Israeli military officials, limiting scope of conflict.

As de facto government held responsible for abysmal conditions in blocked Gaza Strip, Hamas has recently tried to keep a lid on its conflict with Israel. Islamic Jih, on or hand, a more ideological and unruly militant group wedded to violence, has taken le in past few rounds of fighting with Israel.

On Saturday, dely Israeli raid into Balata refugee camp turned focus of conflict back to long-simmering West Bank. Residents said that Israeli forces besieged a militant hideout, sharing foot of a large explosion and smoke billowing from crowded camp. Ejected bullet casings littered alleys. Blood soaked streets. Palestinian Health Ministry identified two as 32-year-old Said Mesha and 19-year-old nan Araj. At least three or Palestinians were wounded in raid, latest of near-daily Israeli arrest operations against suspected militants in territory.

Israeli military said targeted apartment harboured militants who h planned attacks against Israeli soldiers and manufactured improvised explosive devices. It said blast and fire erupted after Israeli security forces detonated explosives inside hideout. two Palestinians were killed when Israeli forces opened fire on a group of gunmen who were shooting at m, military said.

Israeli-Palestinian fighting has surged in West Bank under Israel's most right-wing government in history. Since start of year, 111 Palestinians have been killed in West Bank and east Jerusalem, at least half of m affiliated with militant groups, according to a tally by Associated Press — highest death toll in some two deces. In that time, 20 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.