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Israelis and Palestinians Accept New Cease-Fire Deal Israelis and Palestinians Accept New Cease-Fire Deal
(35 minutes later)
JERUSALEM — Israeli and Palestinian negotiators on Sunday accepted Egypt’s call for a new 72-hour cease-fire in the Gaza fighting to start at one minute after midnight Monday and for a resumption of Egyptian-mediated negotiations toward a more durable solution for Gaza.JERUSALEM — Israeli and Palestinian negotiators on Sunday accepted Egypt’s call for a new 72-hour cease-fire in the Gaza fighting to start at one minute after midnight Monday and for a resumption of Egyptian-mediated negotiations toward a more durable solution for Gaza.
The Israeli government said in a statement that it had accepted the Egyptian cease-fire request. On Sunday evening, Azzam al-Ahmed, the lead Palestinian negotiator in Cairo, said the delegation, which includes Hamas, had notified the Egyptians “that we agreed on the cease-fire based on the Egyptian statement.”The Israeli government said in a statement that it had accepted the Egyptian cease-fire request. On Sunday evening, Azzam al-Ahmed, the lead Palestinian negotiator in Cairo, said the delegation, which includes Hamas, had notified the Egyptians “that we agreed on the cease-fire based on the Egyptian statement.”
The last cease-fire expired on Friday, and Hamas, the Islamic group that dominates Gaza, fired rockets into Israel, prompting Israel to resume its airstrikes.The last cease-fire expired on Friday, and Hamas, the Islamic group that dominates Gaza, fired rockets into Israel, prompting Israel to resume its airstrikes.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the new, temporary cease-fire was intended to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and the repair of essential infrastructure, and to allow a window for the resumption of “indirect, immediate and continuous negotiations” for a “complete and permanent cease-fire.”The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the new, temporary cease-fire was intended to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and the repair of essential infrastructure, and to allow a window for the resumption of “indirect, immediate and continuous negotiations” for a “complete and permanent cease-fire.”
The Palestinian negotiators have remained in Cairo. An Israeli official said the Israeli delegation, which left Cairo on Friday morning, would return on Monday if the cease-fire held overnight. Contacts between Israel and Egypt have continued by telephone in the meantime.The Palestinian negotiators have remained in Cairo. An Israeli official said the Israeli delegation, which left Cairo on Friday morning, would return on Monday if the cease-fire held overnight. Contacts between Israel and Egypt have continued by telephone in the meantime.
In the hours before midnight, Palestinian militants and the Israeli military continued to exchange blows, but on a much smaller scale than the fierce fighting of the past month, which claimed more than 1,900 Palestinian lives — a majority of them noncombatants — and killed 67, mostly soldiers, on the Israeli side. In the hours before midnight, Palestinian militants and the Israeli military continued to exchange blows, but on a much smaller scale than the fierce fighting of the past month, which claimed more than 1,900 Palestinian lives — a majority of them probably civilians — and killed 67, mostly soldiers, on the Israeli side.
The Israeli military said it struck more than 30 targets in Gaza on Sunday. One young man, Ahmed al-Masri, 17, was killed and another teenager wounded in an Israeli airstrike on agricultural land in Deir al-Balah, and a woman identified as Amani Baraka was killed in an airstrike that hit her home in Khan Younis, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it struck more than 30 targets in Gaza on Sunday, including what it described as 11 “terror squads,” some of whom were preparing to fire rockets.
At least seven Palestinians were killed on Sunday, including four who were killed in two Israeli airstrikes in southern and northern Gaza Strip on Sunday evening. Three of those were killed in an airstrike aimed at a motorcycle in Khan Younis and one was killed in a strike that hit agricultural land near Jabaliya, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.
Nearly 30 rockets were fired at southern Israel on Sunday, the military added. Several were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome antimissile defense system, and most fell in open ground, causing no injuries.Nearly 30 rockets were fired at southern Israel on Sunday, the military added. Several were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome antimissile defense system, and most fell in open ground, causing no injuries.
Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reiterated Israel’s position that it would “not negotiate under fire.”Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reiterated Israel’s position that it would “not negotiate under fire.”
In remarks broadcast at the start of Israel’s weekly cabinet meeting, which Mr. Netanyahu held at the military’s headquarters in Tel Aviv, he said the military operation was continuing. “At no stage did we declare its conclusion,” he said.In remarks broadcast at the start of Israel’s weekly cabinet meeting, which Mr. Netanyahu held at the military’s headquarters in Tel Aviv, he said the military operation was continuing. “At no stage did we declare its conclusion,” he said.
“The operation will continue until its goal is met: the restoration of quiet for a long period,” he added.“The operation will continue until its goal is met: the restoration of quiet for a long period,” he added.
Israel said its military campaign was intended to quell rocket fire from Gaza and destroy Hamas’s network of tunnels, several of which run under the border and have been used for attacks in Israeli territory. Israel has demanded internationally backed measures to prevent Hamas from rearming as part of any longer cease-fire. Hamas is demanding, among other things, a complete lifting of the blockade of Gaza and the free movement of people and goods through its border crossings with Israel and Egypt.Israel said its military campaign was intended to quell rocket fire from Gaza and destroy Hamas’s network of tunnels, several of which run under the border and have been used for attacks in Israeli territory. Israel has demanded internationally backed measures to prevent Hamas from rearming as part of any longer cease-fire. Hamas is demanding, among other things, a complete lifting of the blockade of Gaza and the free movement of people and goods through its border crossings with Israel and Egypt.
Members of the Palestinian delegation in Cairo expressed frustration earlier Sunday at what they said was an emphasis by the Egyptian mediators and the Israelis on winning a cease-fire at the expense of longer-terms solutions that would end the isolation of Gaza.Members of the Palestinian delegation in Cairo expressed frustration earlier Sunday at what they said was an emphasis by the Egyptian mediators and the Israelis on winning a cease-fire at the expense of longer-terms solutions that would end the isolation of Gaza.
Qais Abdel-Karim, of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, one of the factions attending the talks, said it would be a “farce” for the delegation to return with an armistice and little else, given the devastation in Gaza. Qais Abdel-Karim, of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, one of the factions attending the talks, said it would be a “farce” for the delegation to return with an armistice and little else, given the high civilian death toll and the devastation in Gaza.
“People have been suffering and tolerating all that with the hope that this will lead to the relaxation of lifting of the blockade,” he said.“People have been suffering and tolerating all that with the hope that this will lead to the relaxation of lifting of the blockade,” he said.
Still, he suggested that there had been some unspecified movement in the negotiations on Sunday, which included a meeting between the Palestinian delegation and Egyptian intelligence. Mr. Abdel-Karim said that negotiations would start again on Monday morning. “I am neither optimistic or pessimistic,” he said. “I think that if the situation in Gaza is to stabilize — and for the threat to the region and its security to end — then solutions must be reached to all the issues put forward, including the occupation, including the rebuilding.”
In the West Bank, an 11-year-old Palestinian boy was killed by Israeli soldiers during a protest near Hebron. The Israeli military said that the soldiers had been responding to protesters who were throwing rocks and that the shooting was being investigated. A relative said the boy had not been involved in the protest. “But to talk of cease-fire without treating these issues is an invitation to resume the conflict, and resume the cyclical outbreak of violence time and again,” he added.
In the West Bank, an 11-year-old Palestinian boy was killed Sunday by Israeli soldiers during a protest near Hebron. The Israeli military said that the soldiers had been responding to protesters who were throwing rocks and that the shooting was being investigated. A relative said the boy had not been involved in the protest.