MOSCOW, August 1 (RIA Novosti) – Israel and representatives of Hamas-run Gaza Strip reached a deal on ceasefire that will begin at 8:00 a.m. local time (05:00 GMT) on August 1 and will last for 72 hours, Reuters reported Friday, citing the joint statement made by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State John Kerry.
“We urge all parties to act with restraint until this humanitarian ceasefire begins, and to fully abide by their commitments during the ceasefire,” the statement reads.
“This ceasefire is critical to giving innocent civilians a much-needed reprieve from violence,” the document said.
Kerry announced the ceasefire deal during his official visit to New Delhi. According to the media, representatives of Israel and Palestine will immediately head to Cairo for the next round of talks.
Israel launched Operation Protective Edge to put an end to rocket fire from Gaza on July 8. On July 17, the Israeli Army switched to a ground assault largely aimed at locating and destroying rocket launchers and underground tunnels used by militants to smuggle arms and secretly enter Israeli territory. More than 1,300 Palestinians and over 50 Israelis have been killed since the offensive began.
