Israel lifts nationwide restrictions after ceasefire with Iran takes effect

JERUSALEM, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Israel lifted nationwide emergency restrictions on Tuesday evening, signaling a cautious return to normalcy after a fragile ceasefire with Iran took hold, ending nearly two weeks of intense cross-border attacks.

The decision came as Israeli officials assessed the aftermath of the 12-day war, which left dozens dead and over 1,000 wounded, while military leaders warned that despite a pause in fighting, the broader campaign against Iran and its allies was far from over.

Israel's Home Front Command announced in a statement that the cancellation of the restrictions, which took effect at 8 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), allows all regions of the country to resume full civilian activity, including the reopening of schools, workplaces, and public gatherings. Communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip will remain under guidelines allowing gatherings of up to 2,000 people.

The easing of restrictions marks a tentative sign that the truce is holding after a shaky start, during which both countries accused each other of violating the terms by continuing to launch strikes. An Israeli surprise attack targeting military sites and nuclear scientists across Iran on June 12 sparked the war.

Police said Tuesday that Iranian missile barrages had struck 52 locations across Israel during nearly two weeks of fighting. Eight of the attacks caused fatalities, killing one soldier and 27 civilians. Magen David Adom, Israel's national rescue service, said 1,319 people were injured, including 17 seriously, 29 moderately, and 872 lightly. An additional 401 people were treated for anxiety.

Israel's Airports Authority said that Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv and a smaller airport in the northern city of Haifa had resumed full operations after periods of partial or total shutdown during the hostilities.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir held a situational assessment with senior officers on Tuesday and warned that the conflict with Iran is far from over. "We have concluded a significant phase, but the campaign against Iran is not over," he said. "We are entering a new phase based on the achievements of the previous one."

He said that Israeli strikes on nuclear-related facilities and missile stockpiles "set Iran's nuclear project back by years," but stopped short of claiming the program had been dismantled, a key goal stated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The focus now shifts back to Gaza -- to bring the hostages home and to dismantle the Hamas regime," Zamir added.

According to Gaza's health authorities, 56,077 Palestinians have been killed and 131,848 wounded in Gaza during the 20-month-long conflict. ■