Israel’s security cabinet and Hamas officials approve ceasefire to end the 11-day military conflict
The Israeli Security Cabinet has approved a ceasefire to end the 11-day military offensive in the Gaza Strip, according to reports.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet approved a unilateral ceasefire to halt an 11-day Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, reports say.
The decision came following heavy US pressure to halt the offensive.
It was not immediately clear when the truce was to take effect.
Israeli public broadcaster Kan said the fighting was to halt immediately, while other TV channels said it would go into effect at 2am local time.
There was no immediate reaction from Hamas.
A fire ball erupts from a building following an Israeli bombardment over Rafah
Plumes of smoke rise into the air following Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City on May 20
A crane is used to carefully remove the unexploded missile from the home in Gaza
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said reports of a move toward a ceasefire were ‘clearly encouraging’.
She said the US was trying ‘to do everything we can to bring an end to the conflict’.
Earlier, Israel had unleashed a new wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip as Hamas fired more rockets into Israel.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi by phone on Thursday during a visit to Greenland, and reiterated the message that the United States expects to see a ‘de-escalation on the path to a ceasefire’ between Israel and the Palestinians.
Blinken said there was a deep and shared concern around the world for the deaths of Palestinians and Israelis and Washington’s goal remains to end the violence.
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