Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Expected Within Hours After 11 Days Of Fighting

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Expected Within Hours After 11 Days Of Fighting

Share to Linkedin Israel has approved a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group Hamas starting as soon as Friday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, following the worst hostilities between the two sides in nearly seven years, including thousands of rocket attacks on Israeli cities and heavy airstrikes in the Gaza Strip that have reportedly led to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians. Palestinians inspect damage to buildings in northern Gaza City on Thursday. In a unanimous vote, Netanyahu's security cabinet approved a bilateral, unconditional ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt late Thursday evening, the prime minister's office said in a statement. The details and timing of the ceasefire are unclear: Some Israeli TV stations say it could begin at 2 a. m. Israeli time Friday (or 7 p. m. Eastern time Thursday), but other news outlets say the start time is still subject to discussions with Hamas and Egypt. Hamas officials have told Lebanese media outlets and a Hamas-run TV station they expect a ceasefire to take hold by Friday. Fighting has appeared to continue despite the apparent ceasefire agreement. Late Thursday evening, rocket sirens still blared in parts of southern Israel according to the Israeli Defense Forces, and