ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.
Egypt brokered a similar truce last week, but fighting resumed after
the three-day window ended.
It is hoped the latest ceasefire, due to begin at 21:00 GMT, will
enable negotiators to agree on a longer truce.
About 2,000 people have died in the conflict, which began on 8 July
when Israel launched an operation to deter militant attacks from Gaza.
Those killed include more than 1,900 Palestinians, mostly civilians,
according to the UN. Sixty-seven people have died on the Israeli side,
including three civilians.
After tense talks that both sides had threatened to abandon, the
surprise announcement of the truce came late on Sunday.
"Israel has accepted Egypt's proposal for a 72-hour ceasefire," a
senior Israeli official told the BBC.
The official added that Israel would send negotiators to Cairo on
Monday if the truce holds.
Izzat al-Reshiq, a Hamas negotiator in Cairo, told Reuters news
agency: "In light of Israel's acceptance of the truce and their return
without pre-conditions, we will inform the Egyptian brothers of our
positive response."
In a statement, Egypt's foreign ministry urged both sides to resume
indirect negotiations and "work towards a comprehensive and lasting
ceasefire agreement".
Correspondents say Israel is likely to continue to push for Gaza to be
demilitarised, and Hamas will continue to demand the blockade of Gaza
to be lifted.
No comments:
Post a Comment