Israel Confirms Cease-Fire With Hamas
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel confirmed Wednesday that a cease-fire with the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip will begin Thursday.
If the fighting indeed ceases, Israel will next week agree to ease the blockade of the Gaza Strip, Israeli defense officials said.
In tandem with the easements, talks on efforts to release an Israeli soldier held by Hamas will be intensified, the officials said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks.
Egypt, the mediator of the talks, announced the agreement Tuesday, saying it will begin Thursday at 6 a.m. local time. Hamas confirmed the deal shortly afterward.
As part of the deal, Egypt has committed to stop the smuggling of arms and weapons into the Gaza Strip, the officials said. A U.S. military engineering corps is slated to aid the Egyptian efforts, the officials said.
If Israel determines that Egyptian anti-smuggling efforts are serious, then Hamas, Egypt and European officials will begin talks on the opening the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, the officials said.
The truce was meant to end a violent cycle of Palestinian rocket attacks that have killed seven Israelis over the past year and Israeli reprisals that have killed more than 400 Palestinians.
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