After one hour of silence, the Cabinet ministers were informed a short while ago that Israel accepts the Egyptian ceasefire initiative. Meanwhile, Hamas declared that at 7:00 pm the truce validates, even though sirens continued to sound in Gaza Envelope and Ashdod and Be’er Sheva districts. Earlier today cabinet member and head of political party The Jewish Home, Minister Naftali Bennett threatened to show no support regarding the ceasefire if it means that Israel loses its right to mark terror targets. Ministers Leiberman and Aharonovich declared that they object the ceasefire; however a Cabinet vote did not take place.

An Israeli official says: „Israel answered Egypt by accepting its proposal of an indefinite truce. Israel gave this answer after all members of the Cabinet were informed however were not requested to vote on the matter, for it required no legal necessity”. Even after7:00 pm rockets were fired at Israel, and one man was mildly injured in Netivot. Earlier today a man was killed by a mortar explosion and six others were injured, one severely so.

The Egyptian initiative includes an indefinite ceasefire and the opening of border crossings for supplying rehabilitation equipment into Gaza, while both sides will raise their demands again in one month. In addition the fishing zone will be expanded, and Israel will be monitoring the goods supply. Later on Israel is expected to demand Gaza’s demilitarization, while Hamas is due to demand a harbor and an international airport.

IDF continued to attack in Gaza before the ceasefire. The Air Force bombed a vehicle north of Khan Yunis, identifying one killed and several injured. According to the same Israeli official, the Egyptian initiative did not answer all of the Hamas demands, those which Hamas had said that without them the ceasefire will not be accepted – the demands for a harbor, airport, prisoner release and funds.

Palestinian Authority President Abbas assembled an emergency conference tonight in order to discuss the latest developments. He is expected to present his surprising political initiative. Prior to the official Egyptian message, Abbas expressed the Palestinian Authority’s approval of the ceasefire. In addition he spoke out in favor of humanitarian aid and rehabilitation action.

Earlier today, Ismail Haniyeh

, former Hamas Government leader declared: „We are on the verge of diplomatic understandings”. Haniyeh

, who serves as head of the Hamas Working Committee today, transferred the message to television channel Al-Aqsa.. His words contradict the opinions which Khaled Mashal expressed in Qatar.

Musa Abu-Marzok, Hamas Political Bureau Deputy Leader who is in Cairo, taking part in the negotiation talks, confirmed the understandings regarding a ceasefire. „The negotiation has come to an end, we have reached understandings”, he declares. „We are waiting for a message which will determine the hour in which the ceasefire will take place”.