Israel-Hamas Agrees to Truce

VIVAnews - The Egyptian government announced a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday or Thursday morning local time. The announcement was welcomed by the Palestinian people who think this is a victory for Hamas.

Reported by Reuters, a ceasefire was announced by the Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr joint press conference by U.S. Secretary Clinton Hillaru. The ceasefire took effect at 19:00 on Wednesday.

"Egypt has made great effort since the start of the tension in the Gaza Strip. Efforts and contacts made Egypt has resulted in a cease-fire and restore calm and stop the bloodshed," said Kamel.

"Egypt is calling on all parties to monitor the implementation of the agreed cease-fire under the auspices of Egypt and to ensure the commitment of all parties on what was agreed," she said.

The announcement was greeted joyfully by all Palestinians. Hundreds of people took to the streets, walking or driving, firing guns into the air and waved Palestinian flags. They say this is a form of truce Gaza victory over Israel.

Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, speaking in Cairo said they were ready to respect the ceasefire, as long as Israel did as well. "If Israel obeyed, we obey. But if they are broken, then our hands are ready to be on the trigger gun," said Meshaal.

Meshaal said that Israel had failed melumpukan them. "They failed, Alhamdulillah. We end this fight with pride," Meshaal said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the eight-day onslaught on Gaza, they have blown 1500 believed to be a central point of command and control Hamas. These attacks, he said, managed to destroy Hamas.

"Our action has damaged the ability of Hamas to launch rockets, make the number of rockets fired from Gaza dropped," said Netanyahu.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza said that the Israeli attack killed about 160 people, more than half were civilians, including 37 children. Hundreds of people in Gaza were wounded.

Meanwhile, five people were killed in Israel in Gaza rocket attack, and wounding about 240 people.