Abbas to Announce Gaza Truce and Statehood Initiative

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According to sources from Egypt, the Palestinian Authority confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that an extended ceasefire is to take place starting at 7:00pm. A Palestinian Authority will make an official statement before the ceasefire begins. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad have accepted the Egyptian ceasefire reportedly and “are awaiting Israel’s answer.”

Israel has reportedly agreed to the ceasefire.

Senior Hamas official, Moussa Abu Marzouk stated on Tuesday that “negotiations are over and we have reached an understanding” after he stated on Tuesday afternoon that, “The new Egyptian document’s wording is acceptable, but we’re still discussing its details with the Egyptian side.”

Despite the announcement of agreement on a ceasefire, heavy rocket attacks continue on Israel, 6 civilians injured from a mortar attack in southern Israel in the Eshkol region. One of the injured was just pronounced dead.

Reports also claim that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will announce a diplomatic initiative to establish a Palestinian State. Following reports earlier this week, Abbas proposed an internationally accepted deadline for Israel to withdraw from the 1967 borders and if they do not comply, would be taken to the International Criminal Court.

According to reports, the Rafah crossing will be opened and supervised by Abbas’s security forces. The truce will also include expansion of permitted fishes zones. Reports claim that the agreement will provide a framework to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian official stating, “The contacts that have been going on have agreed a permanent ceasefire, a deal to end the blockade and a guarantee that Gaza’s demands and needs will be met.”

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Amir Tsarfati, a Jewish Christian, is the founder and president of Behold Israel, a news site to correct the scarcity in trustworthy reportage on issues and events impacting Israel, and to resolve the uncertainty about who or what to believe.