Truce between Israel and Hamas begins Thursday morning

Egypt and the Hamas authorities in Gaza announced yesterday that a truce had been concluded between Hamas controlled Gaza and Israel. According to the announcement, the truce will go into effect at 6am tomorrow. Mark Regev, Israel Prime Minister's Office Spokesperson released a statement this morning that confirms Israel's agreement to the Egyptian-brokered understandings.

Amos Gilad, the senior Defence Ministry official who has been representing Israel in the Egyptian mediated attempt to reach the truce, is understood to still be in Cairo, from where he is expected to return to Israel overnight, with the final details of the agreement. The details will then be officially approved by Defence Minister Ehud Barak on behalf of the government of Israel. The draft agreement is understood to include a pledge by Hamas to prevent attacks on Israel by its own members and by other organisations from Gaza. Israel, in turn, is expected to commit to an avoidance of offensive action in the Gaza Strip. If the calm holds for three days, Israel is expected to then begin to ease the economic blockade on Gaza.

Early next week, the sides are expected to renew intensive negotiations for the release of IDf soldier Gilad Shalit, who is held in Gaza for almost two years. In the first stage, the truce will not be extended to the West Bank, though Hamas has announced that it hopes this will happen after six months of calm.

Some responses to the Egyptian and Hamas announcements, both internationally and in Israel, were sceptical. The US State Department noted that even if the truce materialised, it did not mean that Hamas had quit the ‘terrorism business.' Vice Premier Haim Ramon, meanwhile, called the truce a ‘victory for radical Islam.' IDF officers also added that the agreement does not address some of the problems that involve Hamas's ability to freely move along the border fence between Israel and Gaza. Many in the IDF expressed their concerns that the lull will be short lived and that Israel will be pushed to take a large military action in the strip once it collapses.

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