June 17, 2008

Hamas and Israel agree “in principle” on phased a cease-fire deal for Gaza to begin at 6:00 A.M. local time on 6/19 (11:00 P.M. 6/18 EST) and last for 6 mos. Meanwhile, in Gaza, the IDF makes an air strike on a car in Dayr al-Balah carrying 3 mbrs. of the Army of Islam (essentially the militia of the local Daghmash clan) in an apparent assassination attempt, initially missing the car and wounding 3 bystanders, firing a 2d missile that kills targeted Army of Islam mbr. Salah Salluha, wounding 2. Later the IDF makes an air strike on a car nr. Khan Yunis assassinating 5 Army of Islam mbrs. (including Mu‘ataz Daghmash, a senior mbr. and brother of the group’s leader). Later, Palestinians fire up to 10 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin and Nablus, nr. Hebron and Ramallah (MA, HA, YA 6/17; MM, NYT, OCHA; WP 6/18; PCHR 6/19; HA, MM 6/20; NYT 6/22; AYM, al-Hayat al-Jadida [Ramallah] 6/23)