The Israeli Security Cabinet on Thursday approved plans for a cease-fire with Hama that would end more than a week of missile strikes and rocket fire in the Gaza Strip and Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin (Bibi) NetanyahuMORE’s office said in a statement.
Israeli officials agreed to a cease-fire negotiated by Egypt, which was in talks both with Israel and Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. Hamas also confirmed to Reuters that it will abide by the truce.
The precise timing of when the ceasefire would take effect is still unconfirmed but is expected to start at roughly 2 a.m. local time, or 7 p.m. eastern time.
The ceasefire would cap off some of the most brutal violence between Israel and Hamas since 2014.
Hamas has fired thousands of rockets at Israel over the past 11 days, striking a number of cities in southern and central Israel. A dozen people, including a child, have been killed in Israel.
Israel has responded with an air campaign that it says is aimed at sites use by militants, but which has also killed 232 people including 65 children in the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
The deaths have led to growing pressure on Israel to agree to a ceasefire, and President Biden
Joe BidenIsrael-Hamas ceasefire could come as soon as Friday: report US opposes UN resolution calling on Israel-Gaza ceasefire Parents of 54 migrant children found after separation under Trump administration MORE on Wednesday said he expected a ceasefire to being.
Biden himself has come under pressure to push Netanyahu’s government to agree to a ceasefire.
Fighting intensified in the hours leading up to the ceasefire announcement, with militants launching scores more rockets at Israel Thursday and Israel launching a new wave of air strikes.
