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Islamic Jihad: Egypt Brokers Cease-fire in Gaza Fighting

Associated Press

   GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP - Gaza's militant Islamic Jihad group announced a
   cease-fire with Israel early Thursday, ending two days of fighting that
   left at least 34 Palestinians dead.

   Spokesman Musab al-Berim said the Egyptian-brokered deal went into
   effect at 5:30 a.m. There was no immediate confirmation from Israel,
   which rarely acknowledges deals with Gaza militant groups, but some
   restrictions were lifted on residents of the south, despite the
   continued fire of several rockets.

   Al-Berim said the cease-fire was based on a list of demands presented
   by his group late Wednesday, including a halt to Israeli targeted
   killings of the group's leaders. The fighting broke out early Tuesday
   after Israel killed a senior commander of the militant group who was
   said to be behind a string of rocket attacks and who Israel said was
   believed to be planning a cross-border infiltration.

   The rare targeted killing by Israel sparked the heaviest fighting with
   Gaza militants since May. Islamic Jihad fired some 400 rockets toward
   Israel, while Israel responded with scores of airstrikes.

   Israel's response

   Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the policy of targeted
   killings had "proved itself" to be effective and that it would
   continue, despite word of the cease-fire.

   "Everyone who was a top military official, who was set to carry out and
   was involved in terror or rocket firing against Israel was eliminated,"
   he told Israeli Army Radio. "And we intend to continue with this."

   But Katz also said Israel would hold fire if Palestinian militants did
   so first.

   "Quiet will be answered with quiet," he told Army Radio, denying there
   were wider policy reviews.

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