👋 Excellent Monday morning! 

Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad agreed to an Egyptian-mediated cease-fireplace that went into effect on Sunday evening, 56 hours after hostilities began. Israeli military jets and armed drones pounded PIJ targets in the Gaza Strip, although pretty much continuous rocket hearth rained down on Israeli civilian communities and metropolitan areas, together with Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Global Airport. 

A senior Israeli diplomatic official mentioned that the counter-terrorism operation was staying considered as a good results, with Israel’s distinct objectives — to damage PIJ’s infrastructure and capabilities in the Gaza Strip — achieved in a rather shorter timeframe. The official thanked Egypt for its purpose in mediating the cease-fire, as nicely as other nations around the world in the location and over and above, which includes the U.S. 

President Joe Biden welcomed the announcement of a cease-fire, declaring “over these previous 72 hours, the United States has worked with officers from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, and many others during the location to persuade a swift resolution to the conflict.” He also thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and other senior Egyptian officers “who performed a central function in this diplomacy, as well as Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar and his crew for supporting to convey these hostilities to an finish.”

The president emphasized his “long-standing” assist for Israel’s protection, “including its proper to protect by itself from attacks.” He claimed: “Over these modern times, Israel has defended its folks from indiscriminate rocket assaults released by the terrorist team Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the United States is very pleased of our assistance for Israel’s Iron-Dome, which intercepted hundreds of rockets and saved countless life.” 

The truce appeared to be keeping on Monday morning, with Israeli officers denying reviews that Israel experienced agreed to release two large-position PIJ prisoners from its jails — Bassam al-Saadi, whose arrest final week sparked the most current round of fighting, and Khalil Awawdeh, who has been on a starvation strike for 150 days. The senior…