Egypt Mediates Truce to End Israel-Islamic Jihad Fighting
- Cease-fire to go into effect at 11:30 p.m. Sunday, sides say
- Both sides asserted their right to respond to violations
Mourners attend the funerals of Palestinians killed in recent Israeli air strikes in Gaza, on Aug. 7.
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Egypt mediated a deal to end three days of violence between Israel and the Islamic Jihad that left 44 people dead in the Gaza Strip, including two senior militants and 15 children, and sent thousands of Israelis into shelters to avoid the almost 1,000 rockets launched at Israel.
“We announce the start of a cease-fire starting at 11:30 p.m. today and we welcome the Egyptian efforts,” Islamic Jihad said in a statement sent to reporters. The group said, however, that it maintained the “right to respond to any Israeli aggression.”