PALESTINE AND ISRAEL AGREE TO 72-HOUR CEASEFIRE STARTING TUESDAY MORNING

One of those among victims of Israeli strikes in Europe hospital in Rafah. Both legs had to be amputated due to the Israeli missiles. Photo: MINA — **One of the victims of Israeli strikes in Europe hospital in Rafah. Both legs had to be amputated due to the Israeli missiles.** Photo: MINA

Gaza, 9 Shawwal 1435/5 August 2014 (MINA) – The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and Israel occupation regime have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which begins on Tuesday morning (5/8) at 8 am in Gaza Time.

“We have sent a message to the head of Egyptian intelligence that Hamas agreed to 72 hours truce,” said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri, early Tuesday, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)’s correspondent in Gaza reported.

In a television interview with the Al-Aqsa channel, Abu Zuhri stated Hamas agreed on a cease-fire on condition that Israeli occupation regime forces pulled completely out of the Gaza Strip border.

Abu Zuhri further revealed Hamas delegation will speak in Cairo to urge for a permanent ceasefire with the condition that the Zionist entity halt of all military strikes against Gaza, in addition to lift blockade on the strip from land, sea and air as well as allow the building materials to enter the coastal area and settle other issues such as power supply for the electricity in the Gaza Strip.

The deputy secretary general of Islamic Jihad Ziad Al-Nakhalah also said in a statement that, “we agreed to a cease-fire for 72 hours.”

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation regime cabinet expressed its agreement to the Egyptian proposal, a senior Israeli occupation regime official said as cited by Israeli media.

He also said in the next few days the Israeli occupation regime delegation will travel to Cairo to discuss a “more permanent” ceasefire agreement.

The senior Israeli occupation regime official stated, “if the truce lasted, there would be no means for the continued existence of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip border”, which means that the Israeli occupation regime soldiers who were inside the Gaza border would return to Israel fter a few hours of the ceasefire.

Previously Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement “to the lives of innocent civilians and the rights of the blood that has been spilled, we called for Israel and the Palestinian Authority as well as all Palestinian factions to a ceasefire for 72 hours beginning Tuesday at 08:00 am Gaza time “.

On Monday, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) unilaterally declared a 7-hour humanitarian cease-fire, but then refused by Hamas movement calling it as “the unilateral ceasefire aims to divert world attention from the massacres committed by Israel occupation regime forces in Gaza.” (L/K01/P03/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)