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12/22/2024 11:10:10 pm

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Gaza Truce Holds Despite U.S. Slow Down Arms Shipment To Israel

Palestinian children wait to collect water during a five-day truce in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip

(Photo : REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa )

The truce between Israel and Gaza strip holds through its second day while the U.S. is slowing down its artillery shipment to Israel.

The 5-day ceasefire in the Gaza strip between Israel and Palestine that took effect on Tuesday has held through its second day as residents survey the damage left by the clash.

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The hostilities lasted for nearly a month and have left over 1,900 Palestinians and 67 people in Israel dead, according to reports.

Reports of launched airstrikes from Israel have lead people to speculate whether the truce would stick, but no reports of violence have arisen since.

Militant group Hamas, demanded that the blockade in Gaza strip that has trapped thousands of residents be removed.

Israel demanded a guarantee that the group will stop its missile attacks and will not cross the Israel border if the blockade is lifted.

Either groups have not agreed to the demands but have agreed in extending the truce.

Meanwhile, tension spiked after the Wall Street Journal released a story regarding the criticism to the U.S. State Department toward Israel's behavior during the conflict.

In the WSJ report, it stated that U.S. officials claimed that Israel's conduct during the fighting as "heavy-handed which risked a humanitarian catastrophe."

State Department spokesperson Marie Harf commented on the story by stating that the U.S. is slowing down its delivery of arms to Israel due to the Gaza conflict.

Washington has reportedly deferred the shipment of missiles that Israel has requested from Pentagon, the administration also set up a new rule that any artillery shipment would have to be approved by the State Department and White House.

The White House wanted to be more skeptical about Israel's orders and with regards to slowing down the shipment, it was a move to prevent further civilian casualties, Harf said.

Israeli finance minister Yair Lapid, on the other hand, said the country's relationship with the United States is an advantage that they have to take care of.

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