Israel & Hamas Claims Victory, Celebrations in Gaza

  • A ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas has come into effect. 
  • The ceasefire was brokered by Egypt.
  • This was after the U.S. pressed Israel to wind down the offensive.
  • The ceasefire began early on 21st May, bringing to an end 11 days of bombardment in which more than 240 people have died, most of them in Gaza. 
  • Both Israel and Hamas have claimed victory in the conflict. 
COST OF THE RECENT CONFLICT
  • Gaza’s housing ministry said that 16,800 housing units had been damaged. 
  • Residents were estimated to be getting 3-4 hours of power versus 12 hours before the hostilities. 
  • The Hamas media office estimated the bombardments had caused $40 million in damage to factories. 
  • The United Nations and aid groups said Palestinians now had limited or no access to water facilities.
ANALYSIS OF THE CLASH AND CEASEFIRE
  • The last major fighting between Israel and Hamas had occurred in 2014.
  • It was a ground conflict.
  • This time, the focus of Israel’s military campaign, which started on May 10, was on causing maximum damage to Hamas’s militant infrastructure through air-strikes.
  • one issue with offensives that are heavily dependent on air power is that they need a quicker exit strategy. 
  • Airstrikes leave dis-proportionate civilian casualties.
  • So, when civilian casualties mounted in Gaza, even those countries that initially supported Israel’s “right to defend itself” started calling for a ceasefire.
  • The truce is tenuous. 
  • Hamas says it accepted truce after Israel promised “to lift their hands off Jarrah (where Palestinis face eviction from their houses) and Al-­Aqsa Mosque. 
  • The Israeli side has denied any such promise and emphasised that the ceasefire was unconditional.
RE-ERUPTION OF CLASHES
  • Hours after announcing ceasefire, Israeli forces stormed the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City yet again after Friday prayers. 
  • Thousands of Palestinians gathered in the tree-lined compound surrounding the mosque for Friday prayers. 
  • Many stayed on to demonstrate in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, cheering and waving Palestinian flags.
  • Palestinians hurled stones and Israeli police fired stun grenades and tear gas shortly after Friday Prayers.



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