Friday, August 5

On August 5, Israel carried out several airstrikes against areas in Gaza.

The target was stated to be a commander within the militant Palestinian movement Islamic Jihad, which has been branded a terrorist by both the EU and the US.

The attacks were said to be a response to "concrete and imminent threats" from the movement, and came just days after Israel closed its two border crossings with Gaza.

Representatives from Islamic Jihad confirmed that the commander was killed in the attacks, but according to Palestinian authorities in Gaza, civilians also fell victim to the attacks.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said at least 15 people, including a five-year-old girl, were killed.

According to its own statement, Islamic Jihad responded by firing more than 100 rockets at Israel.

The strike was "an initial response" to Israel's attacks, according to the group.

The shelling triggered warning sirens in Israel, but no one is said to have been injured, AFP reports.

Saturday, August 6

On Saturday, the rockets continued to fly between Israel and Gaza.

Israel carried out renewed airstrikes in Gaza, killing another high-ranking Islamic Jihad commander.

At the same time, raids were carried out on the occupied West Bank where some 20 members of the movement were arrested, according to Israel's Ministry of Defense.

Islamic Jihad, for its part, continued the rocket attacks against Israel, however without causing any major damage.

Palestinian authorities now counted the death toll at a total of 29, six of whom were children.

Israeli authorities, however, denied responsibility and said the children were killed when a rocket fired by Islamic Jihad took the wrong course.

Sunday, August 7

The shelling between Israel and Islamic Jihad then continued into Sunday.

According to Palestinian authorities, the death toll totaled 44 before a ceasefire could be reached.

The announcement of a pause in the conflict came after Egypt mediated between the parties.

According to a leader of Islamic Jihad, the country has promised to work for Israel to release two high-ranking members of the movement.

The ceasefire came into force at 22:30 on Sunday, Swedish time.

According to the Times of Israel, occasional rockets were launched shortly after the deadline, but since then the moratorium appears to have been respected.