After days of heavy exchanges, there were signs a ceasefire might be reached between Israel and Palestine in the Gaza Strip. Reuters reported that Jerusalem accepted the ceasefire proposal backed by Egyptian mediators, with Cairo awaiting a response from the Palestinian side.
According to an Egyptian source, Israel had indicated approval of the proposed ceasefire, and Cairo was pressing for a reply from Palestine, the agency noted. The timeline was contested, with varying reports about when a halt in fighting could begin, one indicating 19:00 GMT and another suggesting 17:00 GMT, both times tied to Moscow as a reference. Al Jazeera later stated that any ceasefire would include steps to ease the economic blockade of Gaza.
Hamas, the dominant Palestinian faction, voiced support for the ceasefire and was conducting talks with the civilian leadership of Islamic Jihad, a group banned in several countries, regarding the agreement.
According to Extra News, Egyptian negotiators remained in close contact with both sides and were urging de-escalation while Egypt called on Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza immediately.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid had previously signaled that the military operation in Gaza would continue as long as necessary, and the Israeli Defense Ministry suggested the operation might extend for about a week.
Operation Dawn
The current line of tension between Israel and Gaza has reached its highest point since the May 2021 clashes. On Friday, August 5, Israel launched Operation Dawn against Islamic Jihad, with Israeli forces striking targets in the Gaza Strip. A state of emergency was declared in Israel’s border regions, and Defense Secretary Benny Gantz announced that up to 25,000 reserve soldiers could be deployed for operational purposes.
Islamic Jihad is a paramilitary Islamist organization that seeks a Palestinian Islamic state and the destruction of Israel. It was established in the 1970s, and its actions have been a trigger for intensifying hostilities in the region. In the ensuing airstrikes, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported 32 dead and 253 injured, while Israel asserted that most casualties were militants. Israel also claimed that civilians in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, were killed due to a failed missile launch by Islamic Jihad.
Reports from The Jerusalem Post, citing Israeli military sources, suggested that militants were released within two days and that roughly 600 missiles were fired toward Israeli territory. The Iron Dome air defense system intercepted many, and some missiles did not reach their targets; one struck a high-rise building in Sderot.
Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad al-Nakhaleh, who had been in Tehran at the start of Operation Dawn, warned that there would be no ceasefire while Israeli attacks continued.
international response
The United Nations Security Council could convene on August 8 to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The United Arab Emirates, France, China, Ireland, and Norway urged a closed session to discuss possible steps. UN Special Envoy Thor Thoresen called on both sides to avoid further escalation and stressed that the UN is actively engaging with all stakeholders to protect civilians and prevent devastating outcomes. Moscow expressed serious concern about the flare-up and urged a return to a ceasefire, calling on all parties to prevent further escalation.
The UN and major powers emphasized that a sustainable resolution must address the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, including the goal of statehood within the 1967 borders. Israel’s leadership also pointed to external influence, with the prime minister accusing Iran of backing militant actions. Israel asserted that the fight is not against Gaza’s people, but against Islamic Jihad, which it described as an Iranian proxy aiming to topple the Israeli state and threaten civilians. The Israelis vowed to protect their citizens and interests.
The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank but has limited influence in Gaza, condemned the current Israeli actions and urged the international community to pressure Israel to halt the offensive. The responses were echoed by regional neighbors such as Qatar, Turkey, and Jordan, all calling for restraint and a halt to violence.