Truce Between Hamas And Israel To Begin On Thursday

According to Egyptian officials mediating a deal between Israel and Hamas, there has been an agreement reached which will produce a ceasefire and truce of hostilities that is set to begin on Thursday.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hossam Zaki, made the statement in Cairo, after weeks of mediating between Hamas and Israel, that "Both sides have pledged to halt all hostilities and all military activities against each other". This statement was further confirmed by a Palestinian official in Gaza who said the truce would go into effect at 6am.

A ceasefire would aim to end rocket and mortar bomb attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip and Israeli raids in the territory. Israel has said it would continue preparing for possible large-scale military action should a truce fall apart.

According to Hamas officials this is set up to be a six month truce, with restrictions and flow of goods coming back into Gaza after periods of calm and the cessation of hostilities. After three days, if there are no rocket attacks against Israel coming from Gaza, then Israel will gradually start to open its border crossing terminals. After ten days, if hostilities are still halted, then the limitations at the Israeli-run Karni and Sufa crossings, will be lifted, although restrictions on some goods will still be in place. CNN reports that much depends on the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped by Palestinian militants in 2006.

Egypt has been trying to broker a truce between Hamas and Israel for months. Militants in Hamas-controlled Gaza have pummeled Israel with thousands of rocket and mortar attacks, prompting Israeli military operations in the Palestinian territory.

Referring to the Egyptian mediation efforts, Barak said, "It's important to exhaust the possibility.

"The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is prepared for any developments, but it is important to attempt to achieve a period of calm to bring back the peace and quiet for the [Israeli] people who live around Gaza in Sderot and Ashkelon and to try and renew negotiations for the release of Gilad Shalit."

The head of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniyeh, issued a statement welcoming Egypt's efforts to achieve calm saying that progress had been achieved towards halting Israeli "aggression and ending the siege." The International Herald Tribune reports that a Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri, told al-Quds Radio, "We are so close to hammering out a final truce agreement. The cease-fire will include a cessation of fire, ending the blockade and reopening the closed border crossings of the Gaza Strip." They go on to say that a senior leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniya, confirms that talks were nearing completion and he hopes for a "happy ending". A a spokesman for the Israeli prime minister, Mark Regev, says "If indeed there will be a total cessation of fire from Gaza, an end of the Hamas arms build-up and movement on Gilad Shalit’s case, then there will be a very new situation." Egypt has been mediating this for weeks and barring any unforeseen circumstances, although many are wary, there could be a relative calm between Hamas and Israel as early as Thursday morning at 6 am.