Mohammad Hindi, a leader of the "Islamic Jihad" movement, announced the movement's acceptance of the new Egyptian mediation formula, which was also approved by Israel. The agreement stipulates the cessation of targeting civilians and the demolition of homes, set to take effect at 10 PM local time tonight. Following the announcement of the successful Egyptian mediation, Palestinian factions launched a new barrage of long-range rockets towards cities south of Tel Aviv just before the ceasefire began. For its part, the Israeli army declared that it was still conducting airstrikes on Gaza, despite agreeing to the terms of the mediation. Later, Israel thanked Egypt for mediating the ceasefire with Gaza, stating, "Calm will be met with calm."
As the ceasefire went into effect, lights returned to the streets of Gaza, where large celebrations were held alongside civil defense marches and fireworks were launched. The Ministry of Education announced the resumption of classes in Gaza next Monday. Eyad al-Bazam, the director of the media office at the Ministry of Interior, condemned Israel's actions during the recent aggression, which involved the destruction of facilities and the killing of civilians, praising the unified stance of the people across all components that contributed to overcoming the aggression. The joint operations room of Palestinian factions in Gaza stated that "the resistance has proven to be the most capable of challenge."
**The Situation During the Day**
Today, Saturday, Israel ruled out any immediate ceasefire in Gaza, stating that Palestinian militants must cease firing rockets from their arsenal, which they hinted might deplete within days, while continuing its airstrikes in the sector. Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi stated during an event in a municipality near Jerusalem today, "We are not conducting talks for a ceasefire," adding that Israel prioritizes targeting militants at this time. Hanegbi noted that the movement's arsenal consists of around six thousand rockets. The "Islamic Jihad" movement did not provide details about its weaponry, but approximately five thousand remaining munitions could allow it to maintain a high rate of fire for several days. This timeline is likely to change if "Hamas" joins the fighting.
The Israeli army reported earlier that its aircraft targeted command centers and rocket launchers belonging to "Islamic Jihad" in Gaza. Massive plumes of smoke rose as loud explosions echoed from the bombed sites. In the Deir al-Balah area in central Gaza, a building was completely destroyed, with nearby houses also bombed. No reports of injuries were received as residents sifted through the rubble. Marwan al-Dairawi, a resident, told Reuters, "The destruction is beyond belief." Eyad Abu Zaher, director of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, stated that airstrikes on one home also damaged the nearby hospital, leading to injuries among nursing staff and patients from shrapnel.
Since dawn today, militants in Gaza have launched rockets, causing air raid sirens to sound and Israeli civilians in border areas to rush for shelters. The Israeli ambulance service reported that at least two people were injured by shrapnel. The Egyptian mediation between Palestinians and Israelis had failed to reach an agreement to ceasefire, with the escalation continuing in the sector. Egypt is attempting to mediate a truce in the confrontation, which has so far resulted in the deaths of at least 33 Palestinians and one Israeli. At least four women and six children were killed in the densely populated Gaza Strip, a poor coastal area besieged by Israel, with Egypt tightening border controls since 2007. In Israel, one woman was killed when a rocket hit an apartment in a suburb of Tel Aviv. A Palestinian official familiar with the truce talks described them as "complex" and "difficult," but confirmed that Cairo continues its efforts. Israeli forces have killed six senior leaders of the Iranian-backed "Islamic Jihad" movement since Tuesday, when they launched a campaign against the group, claiming it was planning to launch attacks. Israeli military officials reported not seeing any indication that the "Hamas" movement, which governs Gaza, launched rockets itself, and airstrikes have so far targeted only "Islamic Jihad" sites.
