GAZA CITY: Israel and the two main Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, announced a ceasefire aimed to end the most devastating conflict between them for seven years.
The truce brokered by Egypt was announced following mounting international pressure to end 11 days of conflict that has claimed lives on both sides, with Israeli jets pounding Gaza with air strikes as militants fired thousands of rockets towards Israel.
A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu s office said the security cabinet had “unanimously accepted the recommendation of all of the security officials… to accept the Egyptian initiative for a mutual ceasefire without pre-conditions, to take effect at a time to be determined”.
The Israeli statement said its aerial campaign in Gaza had made “unprecedented” achievements.
