Ceasefire in Gaza underway

Israel and Hamas have agreed to an unconditional 72 hour humanitarian ceasefire that started on Friday at 7 am CET.

Despite the truce, fighting has continued overnight.

“It is a lull of opportunity – a moment for the sides, the different factions to be able to come together with the State of Israel, in an effort to try to address ways to find a sustainable ceasefire and then obviously, ultimately, over a longer period of time, address the underlying issues,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Israeli and Palestinian delegations are expected in Cairo for separate negotiations to try to reach a more permanent ceasefire.

“There are calls for a delegation to travel to Cairo that will represent the Palestinian parties, a united delegation from all of the Palestinian resistance parties. The Palestinian Liberation organisation will be part of it too. The delegation will travel to Cairo in order to reach a new agreement that will stop this offensive and achieve the right conditions for the Palestinian nation,” explained Daoud Shihab, Islamic Jihad spokesman in Gaza.

According to John Kerry and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, forces will remain on the ground during the ceasefire.

Since Israel began Operation Protective Edge on July 8, over 1,400 people have been killed in Gaza. At least 60 Israelis have also lost their lives in the conflict.