A Egyptian-mediated ceasefire took effect on Sunday night after three days of fighting between rocket-firing terrorists in Gaza and the Israeli military cost more than 30 lives, an episode that attracted strong criticism from U.N. officials, focused almost entirely on condemning Israel
The sources say leadership gives go ahead to offensive after it becomes clear Islamic Jihad does not back away from intent to attack Israelis with Kornet anti-tank missiles; security officials estimated Hamas would refrain from fight but note the group did not prevent smaller faction violence
Shell-shocked Gazans on Monday sifted through the rubble of three days of deadly conflict between Israel and Islamic Jihad militants as a truce held and life slowly returned to normal. As relative calm returned to Gaza Monday, and electricity was restored, Palestinians tried to salvage their belongings from the rubble of shattered homes and to start clearing the debris.