Gaza ceasefire announced

Violence which has claimed more than 150 lives in Gaza after airstrikes by Israel where at least 5 people have died due to projectile fire by Hamas militants since last week is most likely to end Thursday as both parties have agreed to a ceasefire.

International news channels telecast Egypt’s foreign minister announcing the ceasefire in a joint press conference with US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, 24 hours after reports of a ceasefire first made rounds.

The truce will come into effect at 1900 hrs GMT (0030 local time).

Clinton was in Egypt to meet President Morsi after having talked with Israeli Prime Minister, Benyamin Netanyahu.

The details and conditions of the truce agreement are not immediately clear, and so is the length of the ceasefire.

Reporters in Gaza say people in the strip are skeptical about ceasefire agreements until Israeli airstrikes, which pounded the strip for the eighth day today and killed 20 people including seven children, ends.


(Free Press Kashmir)