Both sides had already declared an end to the attacks separately. Israel on Monday announced the opening of border crossings on the Mediterranean coast for humanitarian supplies. The first trucks with fuel crossed the reopened Gaza Strip border, AFP reported.
Israel had already closed two border crossings into the Gaza Strip before the latest escalation. According to the operating company, the closure meant that the only power plant in the Palestinian territory had to be closed on Saturday because there was no more diesel entering the enclave. The hospital’s chief director in the Gaza Strip warned over the weekend of a “medical crisis” if no medicine or fuel reaches the Gaza Strip within a few days.
The opening of the border crossings had been announced by the Cogat agency, which is part of the Israeli Defense Ministry and is responsible for coordinating civilian activities in the Palestinian territories. The crossings will reopen on Monday “for humanitarian needs,” Cogat said in a statement. The return to routine will take place “in connection with developments and the situation and provided that safety is respected”. Israel also announced the resumption of rail service in the area bordering the Gaza Strip and suspended the obligation to remain in shelters for citizens on the Israeli side of the border.
US President Joe Biden previously welcomed the declared ceasefire and called for an investigation into reports of civilian casualties. “My government supports a timely and thorough investigation of all these reports. We also urge all parties to fully implement the ceasefire and ensure that fuel and humanitarian supplies flow into the Gaza Strip when fighting ceases,” Biden said on Sunday. . UN Special Envoy Tor Wennesland spoke of a “continuous very fragile situation” and warned the warring parties to respect the ceasefire.
Israel had been bombing targets of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant organization in the Gaza Strip since Friday. According to Palestinian sources, 44 people died and 360 were injured. The air force first killed jihad military chief Tayseer al-Jaabari and, on Saturday night, southern jihad commander Khaled Mansour. According to the Israeli army, the military leadership of the jihad was eliminated with the operation. The group, which is closely linked to Israel’s archenemy Iran, has been classified as a terrorist organization by the EU and US. In response to the air strikes, Islamic Jihad fired hundreds of rockets at Israel.