Israel and Hamas 'agree ceasefire'

Updated 14.52 Tue Jun 17 2008
Keywords: ceasefire, Egypt, Israel, Hamas

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will begin on Thursday, following Egyptian-brokered truce efforts.

"The two sides agreed and the implementation of the truce will begin at 6am on Thursday," a Palestinian official said ahead of an official announcement.

A ceasefire would aim to end rocket and mortar bomb attacks on Israel from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and Israeli raids in the territory

He said the ceasefire was agreed despite Israel's killing of at least six Palestinian gunmen in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.

Commenting on the latest violence, the official said both sides were trying to show they agreed to the truce out of strength, not weakness.

A ceasefire would aim to end rocket and mortar bomb attacks on Israel from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and Israeli raids in the territory.

Earlier, Israeli and Palestinian officials cautioned that under any truce accord, the blockade Israel imposed on the Gaza Strip after Hamas seized the territory a year ago would be eased only gradually and partially.

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