A contingent of Israeli forces stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque, firing rubberbullets and stud grenades after Friday prayers, hours after a ceasefiretruce agreed by Israel and Hamas after 11-day violence in Gaza.
The Israeli forces resorted to attacks to disperse thousands ofPalestinians living in the occupied East Jerusalem gathered at theflashpoint mosque earlier today to celebrate the cease-fire truce.
Holding Palestinian flags, thousands of people reached the mosque anddemonstrated joy over the development.
Hamas-Israel Ceasefire Truce
After 11-day long bloodbath in Gaza where more than 230 people were killedin Israeli strikes, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into forceearly Friday, giving a sigh of relief to oppressed Palestinians.
As truce began people in Gaza, which faced aerial and artillery attacksfrom Israel, people celebrated the development by honking their car hornsin streets and some with aerial firing.
The ceasefire agreement between both sides was brokered by Egypt that alsoincluded Gaza’s second-most powerful group, Islamic Jihad, amid risinginternational pressure to stop the violence that started on May 10.
A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office saidthe security cabinet “unanimously accepted the recommendations to accept anEgypt-proposed an unconditional ceasefire.
“The political leadership emphasises that it is the reality on the groundthat will determine the future of the operation,” it added.
Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad also confirmed the ceasefire ina statement, saying it would come into force Friday morning.
Egypt is sending security delegations to Israel and the Palestinianterritories to help uphold ceasefire.
US President Joe Biden in a statement said, “I believe we have a genuineopportunity to make progress and I’m committed to working toward it”.
Violence erupted earlier this month after weeks of tensions in Jerusalem,over planned evictions of Palestinians from their homes in Al Jarrah, andIsraeli forces’ attack on worshipers in Al-Aqsa mosque.
Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed 232 Palestinians, including 65children, and have wounded another 1,900, according to the Gaza healthministry.
On the other hand, rockets fired by Hamas claimed 12 lives in Israel.