Gaza: IDF, Palestinian Groups Agree to Ceasefire

Facts

• On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza reportedly agreed to a ceasefire after a night of violence was prompted by the death of a Palestinian hunger striker in Israeli custody.¹
• According to a report from Reuters quoting Palestinian officials, the "reciprocal and simultaneous" ceasefire was established via diplomatic efforts by officials from Egypt, Qatar, and the UN.²
• Khader Adnan, a prominent political figure affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), died in his cell on Tuesday. Adnan was arrested in February, and shortly after began an 87-day hunger strike in protest of his detention without trial.³
• The death of the 45-year-old — who many Palestinians consider a symbol of resistance against Israel — while in Israeli detention has sparked outrage in Gaza, with armed groups, including Hamas and PIJ, firing at least 37 rockets toward Israel.⁴
• In retaliation, the IDF hit targets across Gaza, including a military post, weapon storage, weapon manufacturing sites, and a training facility belonging to Hamas. The attacks killed one Palestinian and wounded five others, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.⁵
• According to an Israeli human rights group HaMoked, Israel reportedly holds over 1K Palestinian detainees without charge or trial under its administrative detention policy.⁶

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²Reuters, ³Guardian, ⁴The Times of Israel, ⁵CNN, and ⁶Associated Press.

Narratives

• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Monitor. Israel's brutal occupation, which strips Palestinians of their rights, is primarily responsible for violence in the holy land. The international community can no longer turn a blind eye to Israel's treatment of Palestinian prisoners like Adnan, and it must immediately protect Palestinians in Israel's prisons or their deaths may become the ultimate symbol of non-violent resistance.
• Pro- Israel narrative, as provided by The Times of Israel. Israel has continually made clear its desire to live in peace, and explained that the blame for violence sits squarely with Palestinian terror groups — the country will not stand by and allow terrorists to freely target Israeli civilians. The international community must not ignore the reality that Adnan belonged to the terrorist PIJ and that, while tragic, his death was self-inflicted. Israel cannot be blackmailed by terrorists who attempt to use hunger strikes as leverage to force their release.

Predictions