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Israel and Hamas agree to Gaza cease-fire
Palestinians celebrate the cease fire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza City, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012. / AP Photo/Bernat Armangue
Updated 4:46 PM ET
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Israel and the Hamas militant group agreed to a cease-fire Wednesday to end eight days of the fiercest fighting in nearly four years, promising to halt air strikes and rocket attacks that have killed scores and to discuss easing an Israeli blockade constricting the Gaza Strip.
Gazans emerged from their homes after a week, cheering and chanting. Gunmen fired in the air, and chants of "God is Great" echoed from mosque loudspeakers. Residents hugged and kissed in celebration, while others distributed candy and waved Hamas flags.
"I just hope they commit to peace," said Abdel-Nasser al-Tom, from northern Gaza.
However, rocket fire continued to slam into southern Israel long after the cease-fire deadline had passed, authorities said, and schools in the region planned to stay shut Thursday as a precaution in case rockets continue to be launched.
The deal was brokered by the new Islamist government of Egypt, solidifying its role as a leader in the quickly shifting Middle East after two days of intense shuttle diplomacy that saw U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton race to the region. Under the agreement, Egypt will play a key role in maintaining the peace.
Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal said the deal included an agreement to open all border crossings with the Gaza Strip, including the important Rafah crossing with Egypt. A copy of the deal obtained by The Associated Press appeared to be somewhat vague about the details on the crossings.
`'The document provides for the opening of all crossings," he insisted.
Minutes before the deal took effect at 9 p.m. local time. (2 p.m. EDT) there was a spasm of Palestinian rocket attacks and Israeli airstrikes, including one that killed a man minutes before the deadline. After 9 p.m., the airstrikes cease, but rocket fire continued, with at least 12 fired into Israel an hour into the truce, said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.
Israel had launched well over 1,500 airstrikes and other attacks on targets in Gaza since fighting started Nov. 14, while more than 1,500 rockets pounded Israel. In all, 161 Palestinians, including dozens of civilians, were killed, while five Israelis died.
Standing next to Clinton, Egypt's foreign minister, Mohammed Kamel Amr, announced the breakthrough and said the deal was set to take effect at 9 p.m. local time. (2 p.m. EDT), capping days of intense efforts that drew the world's top diplomats into the fray.
The agreement will "improve conditions for the people of Gaza and provide security for the people of Israel," Clinton said at the news conference in Cairo.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr (R) and his US counterpart Secretary Hilary Clinton give a statement after their meeting with President Mohamed Morsi in the presidential palace in Cairo on November 21, 2012. Amr announced that a truce had been agreed between Israel and Hamas to end a week of bloodshed in and around Gaza and said a ceasefire would take effect at 1900 GMT.
/ KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty ImagesIn Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he agreed to the cease-fire after consulting with President Barack Obama to allow Israeli civilians to get back to their lives. He said the two leaders also agreed to work together against weapon smuggling into Gaza, a statement confirmed by the White House.
Netanyahu also left the door open to a possible ground invasion of Gaza at a later date.
"I know there are citizens that expected a wider military operation and it could be that it will be needed. But at this time, the right thing for the state of Israel is to take this opportunity to reach a lasting ceasefire," he said.
The White House said that President Obama praised Netanyahu for agreeing to the Egyptian cease-fire plan "while reiterating that Israel maintains the right to defend itself." It also said the United States will use the opportunity offered by a ceasefire to intensify efforts to help Israel address its security needs, especially the smuggling of weapons and explosives into Gaza. The White House also said that the president thanked Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi for his role in the cease-fire.
- Timeline of recent Israel-Gaza violence
- Relentless violence tests Mideast diplomacy
- Work, stress and death in Gaza City
According to a copy of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press, Israel and all Palestinian militant groups agreed to halt "all hostilities." For the Palestinians, that means an end to Israeli airstrikes and assassinations of wanted militants. For Israel, it brings a halt to rocket fire and attempts at cross-border incursions from Gaza.
After a 24-hour cooling off period, it calls for "opening the crossings and facilitating the movement of people and transfer of goods, and refraining from restricting residents free movement." Mashaal says that includes the key Rafah crossing with Egypt.
Hamas officials said details on the new border arrangements would have to be negotiated.
Israel imposed its blockade of Gaza after Hamas, a militant group sworn to Israel's destruction, seized control of the territory five years ago. It has gradually eased the closure, but continues to restrict the movement of certain goods through Israeli-controlled crossings. Among the restrictions: a near-complete ban on exports, limited movement of people leaving the territory, and limits on construction materials that Israel says could be used for military use.
Correspondent's close encounter with an air strike
The deal was vague on what limits Israel would lift, and whether Gaza's southern passenger terminal on the Egyptian border would be expanded to allow cargo to pass through as well. The deal was also unclear about a key Israeli demand for an end to arms smuggling into Gaza in tunnels underneath the border with Egypt.
Under the agreement, Egypt will play a key role. It said "Egypt shall receive assurances from each party" that they are committed to the deal.
"Each party shall commit itself not to perform any acts that would break this understanding," it adds. "In case of any observations, Egypt -- as the sponsor of this understanding -- shall be informed to follow up."
The deal marked a key victory for Egypt's new Islamist government, which is caught in a balancing act between its allegiance to Hamas and its need to maintain good relations with Israel and the U.S. Hamas is an offshoot of Egypt's ruling Muslim Brotherhood.
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http://israelandhamas2012.blogspot.com/
So many innocent people have died needlessly. Others have starved and lived in deep poverty for over a decade.
It is time to have more of the better side of human nature-of love and care, of forgiveness and compassion, of tolerance and charity for all.
It is with this good side of human nature that the World turns into an utopia and a true paradise on Earth.
There must be a mistake here... I don't see where it says how many billions of US taxpayer dollars this is going to cost, to placate the Palestinians and the Israelis.
What was promised by our State Department? Did CBS News even dare to ask the question?
This article makes it seem like it was the negotiating skills of Hillary Clinton that caused this cease-fire, while history has shown that it's usually an American payoff to both sides.
Does anyone have the real details? CBS News doesn't seem to have uncovered it yet.
.
It is as Foolish as anyone can get to have 1 Friend and 23 Enemies in the Middle-East instead of 23 Friends and 1 Enemy.
So you're saying that America should abrogate its moral responsibilities because they are unpopular in that region?
Oh, I see, if we did all Arabia would LOVE us. Right?
This goes for the rest of the countries of the OIC, as well.
Back in the 1950s, when the US was still enforcing an even-handed embargo on the Middle East, many of the Arab countries decided to turn to the Soviet Union, which was happy to oblige them, for their arms. It wasn't until the mid-1960s, under LBJ, that Israel received ANY aid from the US, and even then it was in a convoluted manner, through NATO countries, so the Arabs wouldn't "be offended" by US actions... and a lot of good that did.
So you're saying we should bail on Israel because of the financial cost?
REALLY?
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Hey BIGGEST_LEW,
Except for America, No other Nation in this Universe provides UnConditional Support to the State of Israel - period.
You're losing it, bub.
Israel MUST use at least 75% of any aid money to purchase US-made products, proividing work for Americans. The US government also has veto rights on non-US purchases made with the remaining 25%, as well as veto rights on the resale of anything bought with aid money when it becomes obsolete or obsolescent.
The US isn't handing out any favors with their money-- and they get a good return on it with intelligence information and technologies developed by Israeli sources.