GAZA CITY: A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip, appeared to be holding on Friday after 11 days of deadly fighting that pounded the Palestinian enclave and forced countless Israelis to seek shelter from rockets.

Gaza City was quiet under a cover of clouds, with only a thin column of smoke wafting into the skies after Israeli air strikes came to a halt, a journalist reported.

Celebrations were heard in Gaza minutes after the truce began as cars honked their horns, while in the occupied West Bank, joyful crowds also took to the streets.

With no alerts sounding in Israel to warn of incoming Hamas rockets, calm reigned across much of the Jewish state.

Residents on both sides voiced relief that a ceasefire had taken effect. “It’s a good decision to be honest with you because people from both sides are done with what’s going on,” said Amira Dana, a Palestinian resident of Jerusalem.

In Tel Aviv, Avital Fast said he wanted to be optimistic. “I really hope that it will remain because the only thing that we want here is to live our life without any alarms or fire.”

The European Union welcomes the deal but insists that working towards a ‘two-state solution’ is the only viable option; Russia and China express satisfaction

The truce brokered by Egypt, that also included Gaza’s second-most powerful armed group, Islamic Jihad, was agreed following mounting international pressure to stem the bloodshed.

World leaders welcomed the deal. “I believe we have a genuine opportunity to make progress and I’m committed to working toward it,” said US President Joe Biden.

The European Union welcomed the ceasefire but insisted that working towards a “two-state solution” was the only viable option.

Russia and China also expressed satisfaction, but called for a return to peace talks.

“We must double international and regional efforts on relaunching direct political negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians,” said Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the security cabinet had “unanimously accepted the recommendation of all of the security officials... to accept the Egyptian initiative for a mutual ceasefire without pre-conditions”.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad also confirmed the ceasefire. “This is the euphoria of victory,” said Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas figure, in front of a crowd of thousands of Palestinians who had gathered in the streets to celebrate.

Israel said its air campaign had made “unprecedented” achievements in Gaza, a territory it has blockaded since 2007, the year of Hamas’s takeover.

“The political leadership emphasises that it is the reality on the ground that will determine the future of the operation,” it added.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2021