A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has officially come into effect after more than a week of violence in and around the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 150 people.
Shortly after the truce began at 1900GMT (6:00am AEDT), some Palestinians took to the dark streets of Gaza to celebrate, firing guns into the air and blasting car horns. The sound of Israeli drones could still be heard overhead.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Cairo earlier, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Egyptian foreign minister Mohammed Kamel Amr announced a deal had been reached.
“The United States welcomes the agreement today for a ceasefire. In the days ahead, the United States will work with partners in the region to consolidate this progress,” Ms Clinton said.
As the ceasefire began, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted that if the Egyptian-brokered truce did not work Israel would consider “more severe military action” against the Palestinian territory.
“I know there are citizens expecting a more severe military action, and perhaps we shall need to do so,” he told a news conference as the ceasefire came into effect.
But a short time earlier, Mr Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying he was prepared to give peace a chance.
“A short while ago prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with [US] president Barack Obama and agreed to his recommendation to give a chance to an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire and thereby give an opportunity for the stabilisation of the situation and a calming of it,” Mr Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
It won him praise from Mr Obama.
“The president commended the prime minister for agreeing to the Egyptian ceasefire proposal, which the president recommended the prime minster do, while reiterating that Israel maintains the right to defend itself,” the White House said.
In Cairo, Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal was due to give a news conference following the announcement, Hamas sources said.
Ceasefire agreement
- Israel should stop all hostilities in the Gaza Strip land, sea and air including incursions and targeting of individuals.
- All Palestinian factions shall stop all hostilities from the Gaza Strip against Israel including rocket attacks and all attacks along the border.
- Opening the crossings and facilitating the movements of people and transfer of goods and refraining from restricting residents’ free movements and targeting residents in border areas and procedures of implementation shall be dealt with after 24 hours from the start of the ceasefire.
- Other matters as may be requested shall be addressed.
Implementation mechanisms
- Setting up the zero hour for the ceasefire understanding to enter into effect.
- Egypt shall receive assurances from each party that the party commits to what was agreed upon.
- Each party shall commit itself not to perform any acts that would breach this understanding.
In case of any observations Egypt as the sponsor of this understanding shall be informed to follow up.
Source: Reuters
