Israel-Gaza 'ceasefire begins' after 2 days of fighting

Jerusalem/Gaza City, Nov 14 (IANS) A ceasefire came into effect on Thursday after two days of fighting between Israel and militants in Gaza, it was reported.The fighting took place after Israel on Tuesday killed Baha Abu al-Ata, one of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group's most senior commandersm in the Gaza Strip in an air strike.While a PIJ spokesman told the BBC that the ceasefire came into effect at 5.30 a.m. on Thursday, Israel was yet to confirm the development.Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says 32 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, while 63 people have been treated for injuries and stress symptoms in Israel.UN Middle East peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov said both the UN and Egypt had "worked hard to prevent the most dangerous escalation in and around Gaza from leading to war."In a tweet, he called on both sides to "show maximum restraint and do their part to prevent bloodshed".According to the Al-Quds Brigades (PIJ's military wing), Abu al-Ata, 42, was "one of the most prominent members of its military council and the commander of the northern part of the (Gaza Strip)".The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip and is considered a rival of the PIJ, also condemned Abu al-Ata's killing, vowing it "will not pass without punishment".
--IANS ksk/