#BBOG US, UN announce deal on Gaza ceasefire Kerry and Ban Ki-moon say unconditional humanitarian truce in Gaza has been agreed by all parties; ceasefire to start at 8 am and last for 72 hours. he United States and United Nations are announcing that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a humanitarian cease-fire to start at 8 am on Friday morning, for 72 hours. In a joint statement, the US and UN said they had gotten assurances that all parties to the conflict had agreed to an unconditional cease-fire during which there would be negotiations on a more durable truce. The statement was released in New Delhi, where Secretary of State John Kerry is now meeting with Indian officials. Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbass Fatah party, which is the de facto leader of the Palestinian Authority, has backed Hamas demand that the IDF withdraw forces from Gaza during any ceasefire in fighting in Gaza. Earlier Thursday, Kerry said there is no promise of a negotiated cease-fire between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip, but he said the US remains hopeful. Mohammed Shatya, considered a close affiliate of Abbas, said the Palestinians awaited Israels response to the 72-hour ceasefire, which is suppose to lay the ground work for a long-term ceasefire summit in Cairo. Israel has yet to confirm the report. The Egyptian side is interested in a halt in aggressions, and so are we, Shatya said, adding that all of the Palestinian factions have agreed, permitting a Palestinian delegation to leave for Cairo. However, Shatya was quick to add that they will not permit Israel to leave its forces inside Gaza. Al Bracha, a member of Hamas political leadership, said that the Palestinian factions reached an agreement and are willing to go to Cairo for talks. Tunnels have been at the heart of Israels Gaza offensive, and are currently one of the central stumbling blocks to a ceasefire, with Israel demanding forces remain in Gaza to take out the tunnel system which threatens Israels southern communities and army bases. Finance Minister Yair Lapid said that Operation Protective Edge will continue until the last tunnel connecting Gaza to Israel will be destroyed. Similar comments were made earlier by Prime Minister Netanyahu, who said We have neutralized dozens of terror tunnels and we are committed to complete this mission, with or without a cease-fire. As the extent of the tunnel warren and the lethal threat it poses became known, accusations were leveled against the government and military, which warned about the phenomenon years ago but apparently did not prepare adequate counter-measures. Cairo talks After an Israeli delegation arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to advance talks for a ceasefire in Gaza, the Palestinian delegation was expected to arrive in Egypt on Thursday night, Al-Manar reported. The Palestinian delegation includes yet unnamed representatives from both Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and was set to be headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The Israeli delegation includes Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen and the head of the Policy and Political-Military Affairs department in the Defense Ministry Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Amos Gilad. PLO official Wasel Abu-Youssef told Asharq Al-Awsat that there are talks between Palestinian officials of the highest ranks in order to establish a three- or a five-days ceasefire, following which negotiations will be held in Cairo to reach a permanent agreement. He said the Palestinian leadership was working alongside the UN, Qatar, Turkey, the US, Russia and others to reach a long-term truce. Other Palestinian officials said Qatar intends to join forces with Egypt to help reach an agreement. Associated Press, Reuters and Roi Kais contributed to this report
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 21:52:34 +0000