Israel and Hamas ‘agree upon ceasefire’
Israel and Hamas are expected to declare an end to hostilities on Thursday after a breakthrough in Egyptian-brokered talks.
A Hamas official said that after months of mediation a truce announcement was imminent.
“The negotiations for a period of calm are continuing in a positive way and are almost complete,” Sami Abu Zuhri told the AFP news agency.
“We are closer to announcing an agreement on this issue.”
News of the deal comes on the same day six Palestinian gunmen were killed in an Israeli air-strike.
Hamas – classified as a terrorist group by the west – and the Jewish state have been involved in daily clashes since the Islamic organisation gained control of Gaza last year.
No further details of the mooted truce have been released, which must solve issues of weapons being smuggled into Gaza from Egypt, the lifting of the Israeli blockade and the reopening of crossroads.
