Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Israel reach ceasefire deal

Palestine, May 14:-- An official in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement (PIJ) announced on Saturday that an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement had been reached between the movement and Israel in the Gaza Strip.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that the ceasefire would come into effect at 10:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) and would end the five-day confrontation that started on Tuesday.

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said that 33 Palestinians were killed, including six children, three women, and seven senior PIJ militants, and more than 150 were injured in the past five days.

However, the official said that until now, the PIJ has not issued any official statement on the ceasefire, and the coming hours will be crucial.

There was no immediate confirmation from Israel about the ceasefire.

Muhammad al-Hindi, a senior PIJ leader told Al-Qahera Al-Ikhbareya (Cairo News Television) that "this agreement was reached as a result of a continuation of the Egyptian effort."

"We appreciate this effort and deal with it very positively to make this agreement successful," he added.

Al-Hindi, who was part of the negotiations, said that "the ceasefire agreement includes stopping targeting civilians, homes, and individuals."

He noted that "We will abide by the ceasefire agreement as long as the Israeli enemy adheres to it."

Before the ceasefire comes into effect at 10:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT), new barrages of rockets were launched from Gaza at central Israel.

Explosions of Israeli army iron dome missiles were heard in Gaza city and the northern Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian eyewitnesses.