Israel agrees in principle to ceasefire

Azerbaijan News.Net
Wednesday 7th January, 2009

Israel has agreed in principle to a joint Egyptian-French plan for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Under international pressure, it is believed Israel will send a senior Defence Ministry negotiator to Cairo on Thursday to discuss details of a proposal which has been mapped out in Egypt.

The Egyptian-French plan is believed to contain the primary Israeli condition that the border between Egypt and Gaza be strictly monitored to prevent Hamas smuggling arms, ammunition and rockets.

Hamas has resumed rocket attacks on Israel but there have been no reports of injuries.

Israel halted its military operations in the Gaza Strip for three hours on Wednesday to allow aid into Gaza, but its activities resumed immediately after.

A similar pause in the fighting is scheduled for Thursday and beyond.

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