Israel and Hamas Agree to Cease-Fire

After 11 days of bloody conflict in the region, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a cease-fire on Thursday.

The cease-fire, which was mediated by Egypt, is in effect starting 2:00 AM Friday, hopefully putting an end to the exchanges of missiles, bombs, and rockets between Israel and Hamas.

Since the beginning of the conflict, Israeli airstrikes targeting Gaza have killed at least 230 people in the region, including 65 children, according to the Health Ministry there, which is run by Hamas.

Hamas has fired over 4,000 rockets into Israel, killing at least 12 people, including two children, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Data released by UNICEF on Wednesday shows that an estimated 72,000 people in Gaza have been displaced from their homes as a result of the conflict.

International community urged cease-fire between Israel and Hamas

The cease-fire came after international outrage swelled at the growing death toll in the region.

US President Joe Biden is said to have put pressure to end the conflict on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their fourth diplomatic phone call on Wednesday.

Greece made its position clear on Tuesday about the conflict between Israel and Palestinians, through a statement by Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.

Dendias, in a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, said that Greece “condemns in the clearest way the firing of thousands of rockets by Hamas against Israel.”

Following meetings with officials of the Israeli government and the Palestinian authority he reiterated Greece’s position that “Israel, like every country in the world, has the right to self-defense.”

He urged that an initiative should take place to end the conflict.

“I made it clear that an immediate ceasefire is needed, protection of human rights, protection of human life. I condemned in the clearest way the firing of thousands of rockets by Hamas against Israel. It is an action absolutely and universally condemnable. I also said that Israel, like every country in the world, has the right to self-defense,” the Greek FM said.

Greece supports two-state solution

Dendias stressed that a solution to the conflict is two states as ruled by the UN Security Council.

“The solution we have to come up with is clear. It is the solution provided for by international law and the resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations: two states on the 1967 border with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.”

Responding to a journalist question about the current situation in Gaza, Dendias said “I think that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is absolutely problematic and we need to do everything we can to help. But I repeat, Hamas is absolutely doomed to launch thousands of rockets against civilians.”

Referring to Turkey’s role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the FM said “What I have to say is that inflammatory statements and unilateral attitudes in a particularly sensitive situation, in a particularly sensitive area do not help.”