Israel, Gaza Strip: Israeli and Hamas authorities agree to a ceasefire as of 02:00 May 21 /update 1

Event

Israeli and Hamas authorities have agreed to a ceasefire which began at 02:00 May 21. The truce appears to have held as of early May 21; the agreement, should it continue to hold, will end 11 days of cross-border fighting that killed over 230 Palestinians, 12 Israelis, and at least three foreigners. A Hamas spokesperson confirmed that they have agreed to a mutual and simultaneous ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office also confirmed that Israel's security cabinet voted unanimously in favor of the truce; however, Netanyahu's office claimed that the hour of implementation for the ceasefire is yet to be determined.

Additionally, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan asserted that Hamas had received assurances regarding Israeli policy toward East Jerusalem, notably the Temple Mount and the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. Israeli officials have denied reaching an agreement regarding Jerusalem and contend that the ceasefire is free of conditions.

Context

Despite the tenuous ceasefire, tensions remain heightened. The Gaza-based militants and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued to engage in violence against each other within minutes of the 02:00 ceasefire agreement May 21. It remains to be seen if the ceasefire will hold; the Israeli leadership has stated that the reality on the ground will determine future operations. Hamas has also threatened to engage in further rocket attacks if the IDF conducts additional airstrikes against militants' targets in the Gaza Strip. Israel launched a military action dubbed Operation Guardian of the Walls May 13 to target Gaza-based militants and degrade their ability to launch rockets toward Israeli cities and communities.

Advice

Monitor local media and abide by security force directives. If possible, avoid areas within 5 km (3 miles) of the Gaza buffer zone until confirmation has been received that the security situation has improved. In the event that the ceasefire fails and incoming mortar rounds or rockets are reported in southern Israel, or warning sirens sound in the general vicinity, report to the nearest bomb shelter and await further instructions from authorities. If there is no shelter nearby, stay indoors and away from windows and exterior walls. If possible, move to a ground floor or basement.

Individuals or entities operating in the Gaza Strip are advised to avoid known Hamas security force locations, which are common targets for Israeli retaliatory airstrikes. Establish a thorough communication plan to ensure rapid accountability for all personnel operating in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip.