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Gaza ceasefire announced in Cairo Gaza ceasefire announced in Cairo
(35 minutes later)
Israel and the Palestinians bowed to US and international pressure on Wednesday night to agree an end to eight days fighting in the Gaza Strip that has claimed almost 150 lives. Israel and the Palestinians have bowed to US and international pressure to agree an end to eight days of fighting in the Gaza Strip that have claimed almost 150 lives.
The ceasefire deal – announced in Cairo as the two sides continued to trade artillery shells and rockets – promised an end to hostilities by both sides from 9pm local time (7pm GMT) and a pledge to open border crossings that could ease the five year blockage of the coastal enclave. The second key point seems certain to be the focus of differing interpretations as the dust settles. The ceasefire deal – announced in Cairo on Wednesday night as the two sides continued to trade artillery shells and rockets – promised an end to hostilities by both sides from 9pm local time (7pm GMT) and included a pledge to open border crossings that could ease the five-year blockade of the coastal enclave. The second key point seems certain to be the focus of differing interpretations as the dust settles.
Even as the truce was being announced, the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, was warning more "forceful" action might be required if the ceasefire failed, a reference to a threatened ground invasion of Gaza that was postponed by Israel after pressure from Barack Obama. Even as the truce was being announced, the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, was warning that more "forceful" action might be required if the ceasefire failed, a reference to a threatened ground invasion of Gaza that was postponed by Israel after pressure from Barack Obama.
The ceasefire was announced by the Egyptian foreign minister, Mohamed Kamel Amr, and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton in a joint press conference at the Egyptian presidency in Cairo. The conflict that has claimed almost 150 lives on both sides, including 140 Palestinians. The ceasefire agreement – which had been widely expected – binds Israel to end attacks from land, sea and air and to stop the assassination of Hamas leaders while calling on Hamas and other Palestinian factions to end rocket attacks on Israel from within Gaza.
The White House said Obama talked with Netanyahu on Wednesday and commended him for agreeing to the Egyptian ceasefire proposal, which Obama had recommended that Netanyahu accept. The ceasefire was announced by the Egyptian foreign minister, Mohamed Kamel Amr, and the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, in a joint press conference at the Egyptian presidency in Cairo. The conflict has claimed almost 150 lives on both sides, including 140 Palestinians.
The White House said the United States will use the opportunity offered by a ceasefire to intensify efforts to help Israel address its security needs, especially the smuggling of weapons and explosives into Gaza. Commending Egypt's mediation, Clinton said: "This is a critical moment for the region. Egypt's new government is assuming the responsibility and leadership that has long made this country a cornerstone for regional stability and peace."
Obama also said he would seek more money for the Iron Dome defense system that has protected Israel from rocket attacks. She also thanked Egypt's Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, for his mediation efforts and pledged to work with partners in the region "to consolidate this progress, improve conditions for the people of Gaza, and provide security for the people of Israel".
Earlier in the day rumours had been circulating that Israel had been planning to announce a unilateral ceasefire that would be followed by Hamas doing the same thing. The British foreign secretary, William Hague, also welcomed the deal, describing the ceasefire as "an important step towards a lasting peace" and adding: "The priority now must be to build on the ceasefire and to address the underlying causes of the conflict, including more open access to and from Gaza for trade as well as humanitarian assistance, and an end to the smuggling of weapons."
The agreed truce was mediated by Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and his spy chief Mohamed Shehata after days of talks and frantic shuttle diplomacy involving regional leaders, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon and Clinton. Despite securing support from western governments for its initial military operation against Hamas, Israel had failed to win US and European backing for a ground invasion as a series of key US allies in the region led by Egypt and Turkey strongly protested against the Israeli assault.
Clinton had been engaged in talks with Netanyahu in Jerusalem and Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah before flying to Cairo to meet Morsi.
President Obama also intervened during a tour of Asia to call both Israel and Morsi to encourage them to find a solution.
After the announcement Obama called the Israeli PM to commend him for agreeing to the Egyptian proposal, and to promise to seek funding for a joint missile defence programme.After the announcement Obama called the Israeli PM to commend him for agreeing to the Egyptian proposal, and to promise to seek funding for a joint missile defence programme.
Israel launched well over 1,500 air strikes and other attacks on targets in Gaza, while more than 1,000 rockets have pounded Israel since the fighting began on 14 November.
Earlier in the day rumours had been circulating that Israel had been planning to announce a unilateral ceasefire that would be followed by Hamas doing the same thing.
The agreed truce was mediated by Morsi and his spy chief, Mohamed Shehata, after days of talks and frantic shuttle diplomacy involving regional leaders, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and Clinton.
Clinton had been engaged in talks with Netanyahu in Jerusalem and the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, in Ramallah before flying to Cairo to meet Morsi.
Obama also intervened during a tour of Asia to call both Israel and Morsi to encourage them to find a solution.
The agreement appeared to consist of nothing more than a simple truce and failed to address other security issues, let alone the longer-term question of reviving a long-moribund peace process.The agreement appeared to consist of nothing more than a simple truce and failed to address other security issues, let alone the longer-term question of reviving a long-moribund peace process.
However, an Israeli government source said that following the ceasefire agreement, an "ongoing dialogue will start within 24 hours covering underlying issues of concern to both parties".However, an Israeli government source said that following the ceasefire agreement, an "ongoing dialogue will start within 24 hours covering underlying issues of concern to both parties".
They include the further relaxation of border restrictions and targeted assassinations. They include the further relaxation of border restrictions and an end to targeted assassinations.
On borders, he said: "These restrictions were imposed in the framework of hostilities." In the absence of hostilities, they may no longer be necessary.On borders, he said: "These restrictions were imposed in the framework of hostilities." In the absence of hostilities, they may no longer be necessary.
Targeted assassinations, he added, were "an irrelevant question". "If they are not attacking us, we don't need to shoot them."Targeted assassinations, he added, were "an irrelevant question". "If they are not attacking us, we don't need to shoot them."
Two other issues to be discussed in further talks were the re-arming of militant groups and the Israeli-imposed buffer zone inside the Gaza border. "The buffer zone was only introduced in the framework of hostilities," the source said.Two other issues to be discussed in further talks were the re-arming of militant groups and the Israeli-imposed buffer zone inside the Gaza border. "The buffer zone was only introduced in the framework of hostilities," the source said.
An attempt to reach a truce 24 hours earlier, which had envisaged a lull in hostilities leading to wider negotiations over key issues, including a lifting of the Israeli blockade of the coastal strip, fell apart because of internal opposition on both sides.An attempt to reach a truce 24 hours earlier, which had envisaged a lull in hostilities leading to wider negotiations over key issues, including a lifting of the Israeli blockade of the coastal strip, fell apart because of internal opposition on both sides.
The deal as it stands – despite comments by Clinton that efforts would continue for a wider settlement – leaves considerable areas of friction and uncertainty.The deal as it stands – despite comments by Clinton that efforts would continue for a wider settlement – leaves considerable areas of friction and uncertainty.
Clinton also praised Egypt for its mediation efforts and "assuming its responsibility" in the region. The last week of violence has seen Egypt's Muslim-Brotherhood-led government emerge as a key force – backed by Turkey and Qatar – in a region transformed by the Arab spring.
The last week of violence has seen the country's Muslim Brotherhood-led government emerge as a key force – backed by Turkey and Qatar – in a region transformed by the Arab Spring.
The agreement emerged despite a bus bombing in Tel Aviv which injured 15 Israelis close to the country's defence ministry.The agreement emerged despite a bus bombing in Tel Aviv which injured 15 Israelis close to the country's defence ministry.
Israeli police quickly said it was a terrorist incident, immediately awakening fears of a return to the sort of violence associated with the period of the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, in which some 1,000 Israelis and 5,000 Palestinians were killed.Israeli police quickly said it was a terrorist incident, immediately awakening fears of a return to the sort of violence associated with the period of the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, in which some 1,000 Israelis and 5,000 Palestinians were killed.
Although no-one claimed responsibility for the bombing, .Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called the attack "a natural response to crimes of the occupation and the ongoing massacres against civilians in Gaza." Although no one claimed responsibility for the bombing, the Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called the attack "a natural response to crimes of the occupation and the ongoing massacres against civilians in Gaza".