ISRAEL APPROVES CEASEFIRE TO HALT VIOLENCE IN THE GAZA STRIP
May 20, 2021
By Bob Komsic
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Israel has announced a ceasefire in the 11-day war against Hamas that caused much destruction in the Gaza Strip and brought life in most of Israel to a standstill.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office made the announcement late Thursday after a meeting of his Security Cabinet, which unanimously accepted an Egyptian proposal.
The two sides were still determine exactly when it’s to take effect.
Senior defense officials, including the military chief of staff and national security adviser, recommended accepting the proposal after claiming ”great accomplishments” in the operation.
One member of the Security Cabinet said the ceasefire would take effect at 2 a.m. local time, approximately three hours after the announcement.
In an emergency meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire.
A delegation of the International Committee for the Red Cross in Gaza had called for at least a temporary break in fighting to allow people to shop for essentials.