Return to 'Normalcy' at the Gaza-Israel Border

While Israel has yet to confirm its commitment to an unwritten ceasefire with Hamas to end the recent crisis of reciprocal attacks, the Israeli army announced on Friday, August 9, the 'return to normalcy.' Simultaneously, a minister from the country called for the assassination of Hamas leaders, and mayors of Israeli cities near Gaza considered the army's extensive military operations in Gaza as a solution to end the crisis. During the days of August 7 and 8, military branches of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired over 250 rockets and mortars from Gaza into Israel. Some of the rockets hit Ashkelon and Beersheba; this was the first time since the extensive ground operation of the Israeli army in Gaza four years ago that rockets were fired at these two major Israeli cities. Israel stated that in response to these rocket attacks, it targeted about 150 sites in Gaza using air force and artillery. In the course of the reciprocal attacks, Israelis suffered financial losses and several citizens were injured; Palestinians reported the deaths of four individuals and injuries to over 40; among the casualties were a family of three and a militant. The bombings in Gaza left heavy destruction. Al Jazeera reported late Thursday, citing sources in Hamas, about a ceasefire; Al-Aqsa, Hamas's television, also confirmed the achievement of a ceasefire. According to Al Jazeera, the unwritten ceasefire was reached at 10:45 PM local time, with behind-the-scenes efforts from Egypt. Despite the Israeli army not confirming its commitment to the ceasefire, it advised the people of the country that normal life would return to the area from noon on Friday. The Israeli security cabinet had given the army the authority in a four-hour emergency meeting on Thursday to respond 'with greater intensity and force' to any Hamas aggression. However, Ynet, the website of Yedioth Ahronoth, reported on Friday that Israel 'does not believe' in a long-term ceasefire with Hamas. A local Hebrew radio also stated that the army's readiness and extensive deployment near Gaza continued on Friday, and although no more rockets were fired from Gaza, the established calm is 'fragile,' and some areas near the border have turned into a 'ghost town.' Miri Regev, a minister close to Benjamin Netanyahu and a member of the country's security cabinet, called for the assassination of Hamas leaders. According to the Jerusalem Post, Ms. Regev, in a meeting with mayors from the south whose cities have been targeted by rockets, stated that Israel 'must return to the policy of targeted assassinations.' Hamas stated on Thursday that it had created a 'balance' with its rocket attacks against Israel so that Israel 'cannot attack Gaza whenever it wants' and that it would 'settle heavy accounts' with Israel for its crimes. Hamas emphasized that despite the recent two days of Israeli attacks on Gaza, Palestinian demonstrations along the Gaza-Israel borders, which have been held every Friday for the past five months, would also be repeated this Friday.