Rockets go silent as Gaza-Israel cease-fire appears to hold
After the first quiet night in over a week, morning broke over Gaza and Israel on Thursday to relative calm, as hushed weapons indicated that the cease-fire brokered hours earlier is holding up.
If Hamas and Israel can make peace last until 9 p.m. (2 p.m. ET) Thursday, border crossings into Gaza will be opened, allowing people and goods to move in and out of the strip, as arranged for in the next phase of the cease-fire.
The truce took effect at the same time Wednesday after eight days of intense fighting.
Palestinians pulled more victims from piles of rubble left from 1,500 confirmed Israeli strikes, raising the death toll to 160 - including 40 children, according to Gaza’s health ministry spokesman.
The number of those injured climbed to 1,222, said Dr. Ashraf al-Qidra.
One strike killed five people from one family in the hours leading up to the cessation of hostilities, he said.
During the conflict, rocket fire killed five Israeli’s, including a soldier, and wounded more than 200 people, according to the United Nations.