Islamic Jihad reported earlier this morning that Egypt’s military junta had brokered a ceasefire between Israel and the Gaza Strip, after dozens of rockets were fired on both sides.
What actually happened is somewhat more ambiguous right now, as Israel’s military has denied that any agreement was reached, though officials from the Defense Ministry say they expect the fighting to “die down soon.”
Reports suggest there is a split in Israel’s cabinet about the deal, with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman hoping to use the rocket fire as a pretext for a new occupation of the strip, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly afraid that a new war would screw up planned celebrations of the Purim holiday.
A handful of rockets were fired at Israel, landing harmlessly in fields as most of the others have, though Islamic Jihad and Hamas have both denied responsibility, and are said to be trying to figure out which of Gaza’s many minor factions did it.
