Israel, Gaza Strip: Israeli and Hamas authorities agree to a ceasefire reportedly beginning 02:00 May 21

Event

Israeli and Hamas authorities have agreed to a ceasefire which will reportedly begin at 02:00 May 21. If the ceasefire holds, the agreement will end 11 days of cross-border fighting that has killed at least 232 Palestinians and 12 Israelis. A Hamas spokesperson confirmed that a mutual and simultaneous ceasefire has been reached, stating that the agreement will go into effect 02:00 May 21. Egyptian state media has also reported a start time of 02:00. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that Israel's security cabinet voted unanimously in favor of the ceasefire; however, Netanyahu's office added that the hour of implementation for the ceasefire is yet to be determined.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan asserted that Hamas has 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.

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.