Israel, Gaza Quiet as Cease-fire Takes Hold | WPN World People News

Israel and the Gaza Strip were calm Wednesday on the first full day of a new "open-ended" cease-fire.

The Israeli military reported no rocket attacks from Gaza and no airstrikes by its forces on the Palestinian territory.

The truce took effect Tuesday evening, 50 days after tensions between the two sides erupted into a war that has killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, mostly civilians. Sixty-nine Israelis have died, all but five of them soldiers.

Egypt brokered the agreement, just as it has several short-term cease-fires that failed to hold.

Under this deal, Israel will ease its blockade of Gaza to allow in shipments of humanitarian aid and construction materials.

The two sides also pledged to begin talks within a month to discuss long-standing issues, including Israel's demand that Hamas disarm, as well as a more extensive end to the blockade and the opening of an airport and seaport in Gaza.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon each welcomed the cease-fire, and expressed hope that Israel and the Palestinians can move toward making progress on a wider peace effort.

Source: Voice of America