Israel, Palestine reach cease-fire after three-day conflict

A violent weekend for Israel and Palestine ended Sunday night in an Egypt-mediated truce. The countries had traded rockets and airstrikes for three days. Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted many of the Palestinian rockets, and the country reported no casualties. Palestine reported at least 44 dead from Israeli airstrikes, with hundreds wounded. Israel blames Palestinian rocket misfires for some of the casualties. 

How did the fighting start? Israel killed at least 10 people and wounded dozens more in an airstrike Friday, intended to wipe out militants that officials said were an “imminent threat.” The strike followed Israel’s arrest of a militant leader earlier that week. The terrorist group Islamic Jihad confirmed that Taiseer al-Jabari, its commander for northern Gaza who is allegedly responsible for multiple attacks on Israel, died in the Friday airstrikes. 

Dig deeper: Read Robert Nicholson’s WORLD Opinions column on why a one-state solution would be a disaster for both Israel and Palestine.