Ceasefire!

From the BBC:
"Israel-Hamas ceasefire comes into effect in Gaza"

A ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement which governs Gaza has come into effect. Under the deal, Israel has agreed to end all hostilities and targeted killings, while Hamas will stop attacks against Israel and along the border. At least 157 people have died since the flare-up of violence began last week. Both sides continued to fire on each other as the 21:00 (19:00 GMT) ceasefire deadline approached, but no incidents have been reported since. Earlier, a bomb exploded on a bus in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, leaving three people needing surgery. Israel has agreed to "stop all hostilities on the Gaza Strip, land, sea and air including incursions and targeting of individuals", the ceasefire deal says. "All Palestinian factions shall stop all hostilities from the Gaza Strip against Israel, including rocket attacks, and attacks along the border," it stipulates. Egyptian Foreign Minister Kamel Amr announced the ceasefire at a news conference in Cairo with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who joined negotiations on Wednesday. A statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had agreed to a US suggestion "to give a chance to Egypt's proposal for a ceasefire and so give an opportunity to stabilise the situation and calm it before there will be need to apply greater force". For the truce to hold, Mrs Clinton said, "the rocket attacks [from Gaza] must end and a broader calm must return". "Now we have to focus on reaching a durable outcome that promotes regional stability and advances the security, dignity and legitimate aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis alike," she added.  US President Barack Obama praised the Israeli leader for accepting the deal and said he would seek additional funding for the Iron Dome missile defence system, which destroyed dozens of rockets from Gaza in mid-air during the past week. He also thanked Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi for his efforts.

^ I am curiously optomestic that this ceasefire will hold or lead to a lasting peace. I think that the two sides only accepted it because the US got involved. Hopefully, now Israelies can get back to their normal lives and not worry about missiles or bombers. I also hope that Gazans will realzie that their terrorist group government, Hamas, is not the best choice for them and will get a new government that like the West Bank will work with Israel to stop all violence on both sides. ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20436699