Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Long-Term?

From the BBC:
"Gaza conflict: Israel and Palestinians agree long-term truce"

A long-term ceasefire has been agreed between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
The truce, ending seven weeks of fighting that has left more than 2,200 people - mostly Palestinians - dead, was brokered by Egypt and began at 19:00 local time (16:00 GMT). Israel is to ease its blockade of Gaza to allow in aid and building materials, Israeli officials said  Indirect talks on more contentious issues, including Israel's call for militant groups in Gaza to disarm, will begin in Cairo within a month. The US gave the full backing to the deal, with State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki saying: "We strongly support the ceasefire announcement." The breakthrough came as both Israel and the Palestinians continued to trade fire. A last-minute volley of mortar shells from Gaza killed an Israeli civilian and wounded six others in Eshkol Regional Council, medics told the BBC.
Palestinian officials said Egypt's ceasefire proposal called for an indefinite end to hostilities, the immediate opening of Gaza's crossings with Israel and Egypt, and an extension of the territory's Mediterranean fishing zone.  A month later Israel and the Palestinian factions would discuss the construction of a seaport and airport in Gaza and the freeing of about 100 prisoners.  Israel and Egypt were also said to be demanding guarantees that weapons would not be smuggled into Gaza. A senior Israeli official told the BBC: "Israel accepts the Egyptian initiative for an unlimited ceasefire in Gaza.
"The proposal does not include Hamas demands regarding a port, an airport, prisoners and funds. The sides will discuss their demands through Egypt within a month." The official said Hamas had been dealt a "devastating blow", with 5,200 "terror sites" targeted and 1,000 "terrorists" killed. Israel launched Operation Protective Edge on 8 July with the stated aim of ending rocket fire. It was later expanded to include the destruction of tunnels used by militants for cross-border attacks. The Israeli authorities say 64 Israeli soldiers have been killed, along with three Israeli civilians and a Thai national.

^ Hopefully this ceasefire will hold and Hamas (which has broke all the other ceasefires in the past) will stop attacking Israel. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28939350

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