GAZA, Monday, May 06, 2019 (WAFA) – An Egypt-mediated ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Palestinian factions to end the recent surge of deadly violence rocked the besieged Gaza Strip since Friday and left 25 Palestinians and four Israelis dead.

WAFA correspondent reported an Egyptian source that thanks to Egyptian efforts a ceasefire agreement was reached between the Palestinian factions in Gaza and Israel, and the ceasefire came into effect at 4:30 AM local time (01:30 GMT).

He confirmed that the ceasefire agreement includes halting the Israeli onslaught on Gaza and easement of the Israeli-blockade on the strip, including opening the border crossings, in addition to stopping targeting Gaza fishermen, farmers and protesters.

The massive Israeli airstrikes and bombardment on Gaza claimed the lives of at least 25 Palestinians, including two pregnant women and two toddlers, and wounded 154 others since Friday, and caused extensive destruction.

Four Israelis were killed in rocket fire from Gaza on southern Israel.

Israeli warplanes conducted about 150 raids which besides to artillery shelling targeted 200 civilian landmarks, including residential buildings, shops and media institutions.

Israel has over the past decade launched three major onslaughts on Gaza that have heavily damaged much of the enclave’s infrastructure. The last onslaught in 2014 prompted the United Nations to warn that the strip would be “uninhabitable” by 2020.

Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but has maintained a tight control of its land and sea borders since 2007, denying the impoverished enclave’s two million population their basic rights and causing a decline in their standard of living coupled with unprecedented rates of unemployment and poverty.

K.F.