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RAMALLAH (UPDATED) – A long-term ceasefire in Gaza that the Palestinians say was agreed with Israel will go into effect at 1600 GMT Tuesday (12:00 am Wednesday, Philippine time), an official in Ramallah told the Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The agreement, which has yet to be confirmed by Israel, seeks to put a “durable” end to 7 weeks of bloodshed in and around the Gaza Strip, the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas was to make an announcement on the matter at 1600 GMT the start of a leadership meeting in Ramallah, he said.
“The contacts that have been going on have led to a permanent ceasefire, a (deal to) end the blockade and a guarantee that Gaza’s demands and needs will be met,” the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Islamist Hamas movement, de facto ruler of Gaza and party to the Abbas-led efforts to agree a truce, also said a deal had been struck with Israel.
“The negotiations ended with an agreement which embodies the resistance of our people and a victory for the resistance,” its exiled deputy leader Mussa Abu Marzuk wrote on his Facebook page.
The Palestinian official told AFP the truce deal had been finalised after 48 hours of intensive shuttle diplomacy by Azzam al-Ahmed, head of the Palestinian delegation to the protracted, on-off truce talks.
“Over the past 48 hours, he has been shuttling between the leadership of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, all the factions, and Egyptian leaders, travelling between Ramallah, Gaza, Doha overseas,” he said.
In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Egypt was expected to make an official announcement od the deal. – Rappler.com
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