Cairo announces Israel, Hamas truce

Egypt announced a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas to go into effect Wednesday night, ending eight days of violence and casualties. At a press conference in Cairo, in the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Amr said a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas would go into effect at 9 p.m., local time. Both sides were expected to halt fire. Understandings between the sides would be laid out at a later date. "It is the time to halt fire on both sides and end the bloodshed, and restore calm to the region," Amr said. "The rocket attacks [from Gaza] must end and a broader calm must return," Clinton said. Shortly after the news was announced, a siren warning of an incoming rocket attack sounded in Beersheba, Israel. Initial reports said a home suffered a direct hit and the Iron Dome missile defense battery intercepted four others. Barrages of rockets hit Ashdod, Ashkelon and other communities in southern Israel. In response Israel's air forces hit two rocket launching sites in Gaza, Israeli media said. On Israel's northern border a mortar shell fired from Lebanon, exploded near Metulla. No injuries were reported, Israel's Channel 2 said. Word of the truce came just hours after terrorists threw a bomb onto a bus in central Tel Aviv, injuring at least 21 people. Israel's Channel One television said a one-page document was drawn up, stating the sides would review the situation 24 hours after the cease-fire took effect and would then discuss the Gaza blockade, a security buffer zone between Israel and Gaza and other issues. Israeli officials said the coming days will tell if the cease-fire with Hamas will hold or whether the rocket fire will escalate, forcing Israel to conduct a ground offensive. An Israeli government source told Channel 2 Israel rejected Hamas' demand to lift the blockade imposed on Gaza. Hamas, however, claimed otherwise In a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Barack Obama reiterated his commitment to Israel's security. No country can be expected to tolerate rocket attacks against its civilians, Obama said. Obama expressed his appreciation to Netanyahu for working with the Egyptian government to reach a sustainable cease-fire. The United States will intensify its efforts to help Israel address its security needs including the smuggling of weapons and explosives into Gaza, Obama said. He also said the United States is committed in providing funding for additional Iron Dome missile defense batteries. The White House said Obama also spoke with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and thanked him for his efforts to achieve a sustainable cease-fire and for his personal leadership in negotiating a proposal. Obama also reaffirmed the close partnership between the U.S. and Egypt. Israeli security officials warned the public to remain vigilant, saying Hamas may use the time left until the cease-fire goes into effect to fire rockets into Israel. In the eight days since Operation Pillar of Defense began, five Israelis and some 140 Palestinians have died and hundreds have been wounded. Israeli planes conducted more than 1,200 airstrikes in Gaza, bombing suspected terror sites, buildings, rocket launching sites and homes where terrorists involved in attacks hid. Wednesday afternoon, Clinton traveled to Cairo and met Morsi. Earlier, she met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah in the West Bank. The two discussed the situation in Gaza and Clinton said the United States is making an all-out effort to secure an immediate cease-fire, Wafa, the Palestinian news agency, said. Abbas told Clinton he believes Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian factions in Gaza are seeking a comprehensive deal that will restore calm to the area, the news agency said. Initially a truce was to have been announced simultaneously in Jerusalem and Cairo Tuesday night, but shortly before midnight, Netanyahu, at a joint press conference with Clinton, said discussions concerning a cease-fire were still ongoing. Clinton spoke of the need for "a durable outcome that promotes regional stability and advances the security and legitimate aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians." Clinton reiterated the U.S. commitment to Israel's security "is rock solid and unwavering. That is why we believe it is essential to de-escalate the situation in Gaza." Netanyahu said Israel would be a "willing partner" in negotiations to reach a long-term cease-fire. "If there is a possibility of achieving a long-term solution to this problem through diplomatic means, we prefer that. But if not, I'm sure you understand that Israel will have to take whatever action is necessary to defend its people," he told Clinton.