US And UN: Israel, Hamas Agree To Unconditional, 72-Hour Humanitarian Cease-Fire To Begin Fri.

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

NEW DELHI (AP) — The United States and United Nations are announcing that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a humanitarian cease-fire to start 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.


Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/us-and-un-israel-hamas-agree-unconditional-72-hour-humanitarian-cease-fire-begin-fri

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Developing...

[mylye2222]

1. Good.

Hope this is the beginnning of this horrirs end.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Oh, GOOD.

I really hope that this will turn out to be the beginning of the end.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Just saw a NYT banner

The cease-fire was to begin at 8 a.m. local time on Friday. It was to last for 72 hours unless it is extended.

“During this time the forces on the ground will remain in place,” said the announcement, meaning that Israel troops who have entered Gaza can remain. As soon as it takes hold, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will head to Cairo for talks.

“We urge all parties to act with restraint until this humanitarian cease-fire begins, and to fully abide by their commitments during the cease-fire,” said the statement.

“This cease-fire is critical to giving innocent civilians a much-needed reprieve from violence. During this period, civilians in Gaza will receive urgently needed humanitarian relief, and the opportunity to carry out vital functions, including burying the dead, taking care of the injured, and restocking food supplies. Overdue repairs on essential water and energy infrastructure could also continue during this period.

“Israeli and Palestinian delegations will immediately be going to Cairo for negotiations with the government of Egypt, at the invitation of Egypt, aimed at reaching a durable cease-fire. The parties will be able to raise all issues of concern in these negotiations.”

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/01/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-conflict.html

[mahannah]

16. Great news, but where are the food supplies coming from? Water? Repairs?

[BumRushDaShow]

17. Since Egypt is brokering

I expect through the U.N. & Red Crescent, from Egypt.

[regnaD kciN]

20. The sole Gaza power plant is expected to take a year to rebuild...

...any idea how they plan to get it done in 72 hours?

[Purveyor]

27. Thanks for putting up more details. Right after I posted this I got a call from

a neighbor in distress (truck broke down) and I had to go on a rescue mission.

Don't like to post a developing story in LBN without being able to do the follow up.

[iandhr]

4. Found out from a WaPo news alret

[YvonneCa]

5. Excellent news. And probably one reason...

...why Kerry had to be careful in his comments from India.

[mylye2222]

8. Although we havo no any

doubt of his true feelings. His statement was pueely strategic.

[Uncle Joe]

6. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Purveyor.

[Fred Sanders]

7. Funny how dead children proven dead by long range artillery changes things, how exposing truth

changes things.

[840high]

22. Your truth is not my truth.

[pinto]

9. Cease-fire for 72 hours (CNN)

Cease-fire for 72 hours

Ground forces remain in place

An unconditional humanitarian cease-fire will begin at 8 a.m. local time in Gaza, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced.

http://www.cnn.com/

[COLGATE4]

10. Let's see if Hamas honors it. nt

[IronGate]

12. +1000.

The terror org. Hamas doesn't have a stellar record on honoring cease fires, let's hope they mean it this time.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

28. You are saying that as if Israel's record is better

When it comes to honoring cease fires i think both parties are close to flunking that class

[IronGate]

29. Yes I am saying that Israel's record is much better. nt.

[seveneyes]

15. Hamas may be out of functional rockets and mortars

Let's hope Israel can finish destroying the Hamas tunnels of terror.

[COLGATE4]

24. Here's hoping! nt

[Marrah_G]

32. At the moment they are bombing the hell out of Gaza city

[regnaD kciN]

21. I'm sure Israel will claim they didn't, no matter what...

Hamas is far from well-organized. I think it would be near-impossible for them to prevent every hothead with a homemade rocket from firing it off.

[COLGATE4]

25. That seems to be the excuse de jour - "WE didn't fire the missles,

some dissidents did". I would be much more inclined to believe it if it weren't for the fact that Hamas has excellent security services. Very little (to not say 'nothing') occurs in Gaza without them being aware of it. And, if as some argue, some of the rockets fired at Israel were the work of a 'rogue Hamas factions" I would have expected that Hamas would make a public example of this open defiance by executing those rogue members, just as they routinely do with anyone they deem to be an "agent of Israel".

[840high]

23. ,,,,

[joshcryer]

36. You got your answer.

Of course, they were probably provoked somehow, etc.

[COLGATE4]

40. Isn't that always the case?

Those sneaky Israelis.

[bigwillq]

11. Good

But I hope USA is not getting involved with any type of humanitarian aid. There's enough struggling people in the USA that the money could benefit.

[JDPriestly]

13. Great.

[uberblonde]

14. That means tonight will be even more hellish in Gaza.

The IDF will step up the bombing to keep up the pressure.

[Marrah_G]

31. They have

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/jehadels

[4now]

18. People need a chance to bury their dead children.

[Rhinodawg]

19. TG...I hope it works.

Hamas last ceasefire lasted 4 hours.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

26. Honestly? I think Hamas will continue to bomb Israel after every ceasefire. nt

[Marrah_G]

30. 2 hours to go and Israel is shelling non stop n/t

[azurnoir]

33. Israel shells Rafah during ceasefire, after 16 killed in hours before

Three Palestinians were wounded by Israeli artillery shelling east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday, two hours after a 72-hour ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect.

A Ma'an correspondent in Gaza said that Israeli artillery fired several shells east of Rafah, in what appears to be the first violation of the ceasefire by Israeli forces.

In the eastern Gaza Strip, meanwhile, Israeli soldiers opened fire on Palestinian civilians who attempted to reach their homes in areas near the border.

After the Israeli attacks, sirens were heard in Kerem Shalom in Israel, presumably as Palestinian militants fired rockets in response to the alleged Israeli violation of the ceasefire.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=717319

[Behind the Aegis]

34. LIVE UPDATES: 4 Gazans killed by IDF fire, rockets on Israel resume despite truce

Mortars fired at communities near Gaza border hours after cease-fire called ● IDF releases names of soldiers killed Thursday ● 16 Gaza Palestinians killed overnight ● Netanyahu says Israel will continue to destroy infiltration tunnels

By Haaretz | Aug. 1, 2014 | 11:03 AM | 4

A 72-hour humanitarian agreement took effect Friday morning at 8 A.M., after Israel and Hamas agreed to a proposal set forth by the United States and the EU.

Two hours after the truce kicked in, two mortar shells fired from within the Strip landed near a town by the border, and shortly thearafter, Palestinian sources reported that several Gaza residents were killed and wounded by IDF artillery fire directed at the southern Gaza Strip.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.608331

[countryjake]

35. Israeli tanks break Gaza ceasefire after three hours, Palestinians killed

Reports Israeli tanks break Gaza ceasefire after three hours August 1, 2014

http://www.smh.com.au/world/reports-israeli-tanks-break-gaza-ceasefire-after-three-hours-20140801-zzlv2.html

Israeli tank fire has killed at least four Palestinians and wounded about 20 in Gaza in defiance of the ceasefire, Gaza officials say.

International news organisations, including the Associated Press and al-Jazeera, have reported the deaths, along with numerous correspondents.

"BREAKING: Gaza officials: Israeli tank fire kills 4 Palestinians after cease-fire," AP tweeted.

"At least five Palestinians have been killed and 20 wounded in Rafah by Israeli tank shells according to the Gaza Interior Ministry," al-Jazeera reported.

The attack would be the end of an agreed 72-hour ceasefire, less than three hours after it began.

[leftynyc]

37. If you want to believe

Gazan officials (read hamas), go right ahead. It's touching that so many here will swallow what a terrorist organization has to say without question. Could be why the far left has zero influence in this country.

[countryjake]

38. Don't need to listen to anybody. I'm watching it with my own eyes.

1-minute time lapse of an entire neighborhood being reduced to rubble.

Photo by Bud Korotzer

[leftynyc]

39. Really?

You SAW the Israeli's break the ceasefire? With you own eyes? How touching you believe whatever a terrorist organization has to say.