Israel, Hamas agree to 12-hour ceasefire
Both Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 12-hour ceasefire that will take effect at 7 a.m. local time, granting a brief reprieve to the millions in both Palestine and Israel who have been under siege for nearly three weeks.
CNN reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his approval of the temporary measure to the United States Secretary of State John Kerry.
Palestinian Parliamentarian Mustafa Barghouti has said that Hamas, and all Palestinians, will abide by the terms of the agreement. Barghouti's mention of all Palestinians is crucial.
It has been reported that rogue militants are responsible for the latest violence, which was triggered by the tit for tat killings of Israeli and Palestinian teenagers. Three Israelis were first kidnapped and then murdered as they hitchhiked home from an illegal Israeli settlement. Netanyahu immediately blamed Hamas for the killings, which ratcheted up tensions exponentially. Hamas' refusal to confirm or deny involvement in the matter did not help diffuse the situation.
A Tweet by a BBC journalist, citing an Israeli police spokesperson, suggested that Hamas did not play a role in the initial kidnappings and murders.
Israeli police MickeyRosenfeld tells me men who killed 3 Israeli teens def lone cell, hamas affiliated but not operating under leadership1/2
— Jon Donnison (@JonDonnison) July 25, 2014
Kerry was joined in his efforts to get a ceasefire agreement by the head of the United Nations, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Diplomats from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey also helped to establish and keep open diplomatic channels to facilitate communication and the reaching of an agreement.
Kerry said that he hoped the initial 12 hours could be doubled to a full day, allowing for further negotiations that may help to end the current outbreak of violence.
News of the ceasefire came after a "Day of Rage" in the West Bank, which had been largely spared from the violence witnessed in the Gaza Strip. The Day of Rage saw Palestinian protestors in the West Bank clash with Israeli security forces.
