Israel has agreed to the open-ended cease-fire with Hamas proposed by Egypt and which came into effect at 7 pm. Shortly before the truce came into effect, two Israelis were killed when a mortar shell struck kibbutz Nirim in the Eshkol region. The cease-fire ended an incessant barrage of rocket fire on southern Israel over the past few days and Israeli air force strikes on the Gaza Strip. Hamas continued to fire some rockets shortly after 7 pm.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to the cease-fire and updated the cabinet on the details of the decision but no vote was taken subject to a legal opinion on the matter.
Sources say that the Egyptian proposal does not meet any of Hamas's previous demands without which they said they would refuse to end hostilities. These included the opening of a seaport, airport, releasing prisoners and detainees, and transfer of funds. On the other hand, there are also no measures to implement the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, as Israel had demanded. These matters will be discussed during the truce. Israel's demands were channeled through the Egyptians and the Palestinians via Qatar and Turkey.
As part of the truce, Israel will allow humanitarian aid to rehabilitate the destruction in the Gaza Strip during the past 50 days of fighting.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 26, 2014
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2014