On the evening of 13 May, a ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and the Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza, facilitated by Egypt, Qatar, and the UN, bringing an end to five days of intense conflict.
The ceasefire document encompasses commitments to refrain from targeting civilians, demolishing homes, and engaging in individual assassinations. These terms align with the demand made by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) for Israel to halt its 'assassination policy' against its leaders.
The ceasefire document states that Egypt urges both parties to implement the agreement and is actively working to ensure its enforcement by maintaining communication with them.
The escalation began on 9 May when Israel carried out early morning air raids on the homes of three top PIJ leaders in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of the leaders and their families. In response, Palestinian missiles were launched towards Tel Aviv, surrounding settlements, and cities near Gaza. Simultaneously, the Israeli air force continued its indiscriminate aerial attacks on the besieged enclave.
The situation quickly escalated into a full-scale battle known as the Battle of "The Revenge of the Free" by the resistance factions. As Israel continued its bombardment of Gaza, claiming the lives of three more PIJ leaders and several civilians, the rocket attacks from Palestinian militants persisted. These barrages were launched daily into the occupied territories and even reached the holy occupied city of Jerusalem.
During the conflict, two Israelis lost their lives, and many others were injured due to rocket fire from the resistance factions. The Israeli army reported over 1,200 rockets fired at the occupied territories, causing significant damage to homes and other property.
In the Gaza Strip, Israel's "Shield and Arrow" operation resulted in the death of 33 Palestinians and dozens more injured since Tuesday. Infrastructure suffered extensive damage, and numerous civilian homes were destroyed.
At 10:00 PM on the evening of 13 May, Palestinian rockets were still being launched from the strip towards Israel, while Israeli warplanes continued their strikes on Gaza. The crossfire continued for approximately 40 minutes before calm eventually prevailed.
Tariq Selmi, a spokesperson for the PIJ, claimed that Israel had agreed to halt its policy of assassinating leaders during the negotiations. However, it remains unclear what decisions have been made regarding the other terms proposed by the resistance, such as the release of hunger-striker Khader Adnan's body and potential changes to next week's controversial flag march.
Selmi warned that any further aggression or assassinations by Israel would be met with a response, emphasizing that the Zionist enemy bears the responsibility for its actions.
The resistance factions, led by the PIJ, have been hailed for their speed and coordination in accurately targeting settlements, cities, and military sites with successive rocket barrages. Their actions have been seen as a victory for the resistance.
PIJ chief Ziad al-Nakhala, in a statement following the ceasefire, declared the end of another round in the struggle against the Zionist project. He mourned the loss of the martyred leaders and praised the resilience of the fighters from Saraya Al-Quds who stood against the aggression.
Al-Nakhala also expressed gratitude to Iran and Hezbollah for their support of the resistance, as well as Egypt and Qatar for their efforts in curbing the aggression.
In a statement, the Joint Operations Room of the resistance factions proclaimed that this battle marks a new chapter of glory for the Palestinian people, emphasizing that victory belongs to the resistance while praising the greatness of God.