Home Front Command relaxes restrictions after ceasefire

The Home Front Command relaxed restrictions on southern Israel on Saturday night two hours after a ceasefire between the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Israel reportedly took effect.

According to the new guidelines, gatherings in open areas of more than 10 people and in buildings of more than 100 people will be banned in communities near the Gaza border from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Additionally, in that time period, only workplaces with a shelter nearby will be able to open and classes will only take place within shelters.

The Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings will partially reopen on Sunday morning, hours after a ceasefire between Israel and Islamic Jihad took effect, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced on Sunday morning.

The Erez crossing will open starting at 8 a.m. The Kerem Shalom crossing will open at 11 a.m. The fishing zone off the coast of Gaza will reopen as well on Sunday morning.

The US welcomed the ceasefire agreement early Sunday morning, expressing condolences to the families of civilians who were killed in the fighting and stressing the US's "ironclad commitment" to Israel's security.

"The United States commends Egypt’s crucial role in mediating the ceasefire agreement, which will prevent the further loss of civilian lives. We also recognize Qatar’s robust efforts to de-escalate the situation and end the hostilities, as well as the international community’s support for the ceasefire. Our team worked tirelessly in cooperation with our partners to support these efforts," said Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US State Department.

"The United States reaffirms our ironclad commitment to Israel’s security, as reflected in our ongoing support for Iron Dome and other Israeli missile defense systems. We will remain engaged with our partners to promote calm in the weeks and months ahead," added Miller.

"We also will continue our efforts to improve quality of life for Palestinians and we urge the swift delivery of fuel and other critical supplies into Gaza.  The United States believes that Israelis and Palestinians both deserve to live safely and securely and to enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity, and democracy."

The IDF struck targets in the Gaza Strip after two rockets were fired towards southern Israel earlier on Saturday night.

The sites targeted included sites near Gaza City and Beit Hanoun.

Rocket sirens sounded in Ein Hashlosha, Nirim, over an hour after a ceasefire reportedly took effect.

National Security Advisor Tzahi Hanegbi thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on behalf of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and expressed Israel's appreciation for Egypt's "vigorous efforts to bring about a ceasefire," the Prime Minister's Office said.

Hanegbi clarified that "quiet will be answered with quiet. If Israel is attacked or threatened, it will continue to do everything it needs to do in order to defend itself."

The IDF attacked two rocket launchers of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip on Saturday night, according to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit.

The strikes came after the Islamic Jihad fired volleys of rockets toward Israel shortly after a reported ceasefire that was meant to go into effect at 22:00 p.m.

A rocket alert was given for the towns of Nirim and Ein Hashlosha near the Gaza Strip, about fifteen minutes after a reported ceasefire was meant to go into effect.

A rocket alert was given for the greater Sderot area and Kibbutz Kissufim about eight minutes after the reported ceasefire was meant to go into effect.

The IDF was striking targets in the Gaza Strip on Saturday night, according to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit.

The strikes came after the Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired volleys of rockets toward Israel in the hour leading up to a reported ceasefire.