Israel and Gaza militants agree to cease-fire after a weekend of violence
By Loveday Morris and Loveday Morris Jerusalem bureau chief covering the Middle East Email Bio Follow Hazem Balousha May 6 at 2:59 AM JERUSALEM — Armed factions in Gaza said that they had agreed to a cease-fire with Israel that took hold in the early hours of Monday morning, after militants fired more than 600 rockets toward Israel, which responded with airstrikes.
It was the worst bout of violence since the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas, which rules Gaza, and involved the first Israeli civilian deaths by rocket fire since that clash. Netanyahu, however, has also been under criticism from right-wing coalition partners, and residents of southern Israel, for repeatedly acceding to Hamas’ demands after a spate of rocket fire. This time though, the stakes were particularly high for Israel, as international teams began flying in for Eurovision, an international singing contest, the hosting of which has been a major source of national pride.
Basim Naim, a Hamas official, said that made it a particularly good time to pressure Israel, with its independence day celebrations also held this week.
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