FROM THE ENCOUNTER IN BEIRUT. The truce between Hamas and Israel kicked off as planned at two this night and there were no violations. Israel feared one last massive rocket launch and left its jets in flight to be able to respond. After the announcement, at half past ten yesterday evening, the people of Gaza took to the streets to celebrate the end of the nightmare but also to celebrate what the Islamic militant group called “a victory”. The ceasefire was reached with the mediation of Egypt and Qatar, supported by the diplomatic power of the United States. Also decisive was Joe Biden’s call to Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday with a request to slow down immediately and then stop operations. Last night, the Israeli premier met the Defense Council and proposed accepting the truce.
During the night, the American president praised Israel for the decision and then called Netanyahu again to thank him and to reiterate his support for the Jewish state: “I have ensured the continuation of military aid – he explained -. The United States supports Israel’s right to defend itself with indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups. This conflict has led to the deaths of many civilians, including children, and I have sent my condolences to all families, Israeli and Palestinian ”. The US leader’s reference is also to a proposal by the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, which wanted to stop the sale of guided bombs to the ally.
Biden specified that he had spoken with the Egyptian president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and the Palestinian president Abu Mazen. He thanked Al-Sisi for his “intense diplomatic work”. Now the US, the United Nations and regional allies will work to “provide humanitarian aid quickly”. Cairo has allocated 500 million dollars, others will come from Qatar. Biden explained that he will provide assistance “in partnership with the Palestinian Authority and not with Hamas”, considered a terrorist organization, “so that it cannot replenish its missile arsenal”.
In just eleven days the militant groups managed to fire 4200 rockets, compared to 4879 in the 49 days of the 2014 war. The latest raids have brought Palestinian victims to 233, including 65 minors. Twelve died in Israel, with 342 wounded. Despite the demolition of the headquarters of major TV and agencies, including that of Al-Jazeera and the Associated Press, a continuous stream of images of children killed, injured, maimed, has had its weight in tipping the scales in public opinion. . On this basis it remains to be seen how long the truce will last. Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif tries to emerge from the rubble as a winner. Israel cannot fail to take this into consideration.