Quiet on the way to the envelope: The terrorist organization agreed to an immediate cessation of all military activity from the Gaza Strip, including the inflating of balloons • The payoff: opening the Kerem Shalom crossing, expanding the fishing area and increasing aid from Qatar

• Fire in the Gaza Strip as a result of incendiary balloons // Photo: AP

After long weeks, calm returns to the Gaza Strip.

Hamas announced last night that it would immediately cease all military activity in the Gaza Strip.

This announcement is a significant achievement for Israel, which has refused to succumb to balloon terrorism.

The announcement, made last night, came after intense mediation efforts led by Egypt and Qatari envoy Muhammad al-Amadi.

Hamas has pledged to immediately cease all terrorist activity from Gaza, including the launching of incendiary and explosive balloons, as well as the nightly harassment incidents near the settlements.

As part of the agreement reached, Israel undertook to remove the sanctions imposed on the Gaza Strip, including opening the Kerem Shalom crossing to goods, allowing the flow of fuel and reopening the fishing grounds.

Israel insisted on announcing this only after the Palestinian announcement, in order to make sure that Hamas fulfills its obligations.

Photo: Moshe Baruchi, JNF forester

As part of the agreement, Qatar has pledged to continue the monthly transfer of funds to the Strip.

So far, Qatar has transferred $ 30 million a month to Hamas, but during the crisis, Hamas demanded a significant increase to $ 40 million a month.

Last night it was not clear what amount Qatar had pledged to transfer, but it was learned that as part of the agreement Qatar had pledged to transfer the payment not only in September but also in the coming months, which should ostensibly ensure long-term peace.

Hamas' agreement to the outline reached is a clear victory for Israeli policy.

Hamas began the current wave of violence, which included inflating dozens of balloons daily, not only to ensure continued Qatari funding, but also to accept an Israeli commitment to launch civilian energy and infrastructure projects in the Gaza Strip.

However, the Israeli sanctions imposed on the Gaza Strip - stopping the transfer of goods and fuels and preventing fishing - as well as the daily attacks in response to the launch of the balloons, along with the realization that Israel does not intend to fold, made him content with much more modest achievement.

One can learn from this about the internal distress in which Hamas finds itself.

The sanctions have led to harsh internal criticism in Gaza, both from rival organizations and from the citizens of the Gaza Strip.

Hamas has realized that it owes an immediate achievement, which will enable the return of routine, and now it will try to advance the other issues that are important to it through negotiations. Israel gifted this with progress first on the issue of prisoners and missing persons, which now seems complicated to resolve. IDF Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, and civilians Abra Mengistu and Hisham a-Sayed, who are being held in Gaza.