Israel has decided to accept a 72-hour ceasefire in Gaza, a ceasefire that does not include any preconditions.

The ceasefire is set to begin at 08:00 on Tisha B’Av morning. At this time the last of the IDF troops operating in Gaza is leaving. When the ceasefire begins, there will be no IDF forces in Gaza whatsoever.

During the last ceasefire, on Friday 5 Menachem Av, a Hamas suicide bomber targeted a Givati force in the Khan Yunis region killing three soldiers and taking one of the bodies, that of 2nd.-Lt. Hadar Goldin HY”D. A number of soldiers were wounded in that attack.

The government, particularly the prime minister and defense minister, have a great deal of work ahead if they wish to persuade Gaza border community leaders that they did not end the operation prematurely. There is much anger amid reports that IDF is pulling out of Gaza, with many citing they are not convinced all the tunnels are destroyed, and even if this is the case, the matter of ongoing rocket fire into Israel is being ignored. Many residents of Gaza border communities announced they do not plan to return home. They feel that are simply cannon fodder for Hamas rockets.

The prime minister hopes to address in a ceasefire agreement that will involve major players and result in the disarmament of Gaza. Hamas has clearly demonstrated it has not been stripped of its rocket-firing abilities.

Government officials feel that if Hamas abides by the ceasefire then Israel will be willing to entertain moving forward with the Egyptian peace-making initiative. By pulling all IDF troops out of Gaza Israel feels it will be placing the burden on Hamas, for any violations of the ceasefire will originate in Gaza, not Israel. There will be no IDF forces in Gaza to blame for ceasefire violation.

There is a measure of cautious optimism surrounding this ceasefire because it is an Egyptian initiative, not Israel or the UN.

Israel has announced that while it will not initiate any military activities during the ceasefire, it will respond to any and all violations by Hamas.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)