Israeli and Palestinian negotiators announced Tuesday that they have agreed to an extended ceasefire after seven weeks of deadly fighting in Gaza.
The ceasefire took effect at 7 p.m. local time . Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced the truce from his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Egypt organized the truce. It calls for Israel to ease its blockade of Gaza. The agreement will permit shipments of humanitarian aid and building materials for repair and reconstruction in Gaza. The two sides will continue talks about Israels demand that Hamas militants surrender their weapons.
The United States said it strongly supports the truce.
Over 2,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and more than 60 Israelis were killed in the almost two month long conflict.
Belarus Meeting Fails to End Fighting in Ukraine
Ukraines President Petro Poroshenko and Russias President Vladimir Putin met in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, Tuesday. They failed to reach agreement about the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Mr. Poroshenko said the conflict would end with a secure border for Ukraine. He said there must be a block to transports of arms from Russia to the rebels.
Mr. Putin demanded that Russia be permitted to meet with the rebels and supply humanitarian aid.
Cambodian Opposition Gets Parliamentary Commissions
