MOSCOW, August 26 (RIA Novosti) – Israelis and Palestinians have agreed to announce a ceasefire at 16:00 GMT Tuesday after weeks of Egypt-mediated efforts to end the hostilities, Egypt’s state-run MENA agency reported.
“Egypt announced Tuesday that a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians has been reached. The ceasefire will come into effect as of 7:00 p.m. [local time, 16:00 GMT] on Tuesday,” the state-run MENA news agency said.
Egypt’s Ahram Online news website said Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas was expected to give further details in a speech at his West Bank headquarters in Ramallah at 16:00 GMT.
The previous ceasefire in Gaza collapsed last Tuesday, some eight hours before the official deadline. Israel blamed Hamas militants for firing rockets at the Israeli territory and ordered the army to resume airstrikes against the Gaza Strip. The renewed fighting has claimed the lives of more than 100 Palestinians, whereas Hamas militants have fired more than 700 rockets against Israel since the resumption of hostilities.
More than 2,100 Palestinians and 68 Israelis have died in the conflict that has been ongoing for 50 days.
