CNBC Reports 72 Hour Cease Fire as of 8AM Local time Friday

[mbig]

Whatever that's worth.


US, UN Announce Deal on Gaza Cease-Fire
NEW DELHI — Jul 31, 2014, 5:39 PM ET
By LARA JAKES AP National Security Writer
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-announce-deal-gaza-cease-fire-24797872

The United States and United Nations are announcing that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a humanitarian cease-fire to start Friday morning for 72 hours.

In a joint statement, the U.S. and U.N. said they had gotten assurances that all parties to the conflict had agreed to an unconditional cease-fire during which there would be negotiations on a more durable truce.

The statement was released in New Delhi, where Secretary of State John Kerry is now meeting with Indian officials.​

 

[donsutherland1]

Whatever that's worth.


US, UN Announce Deal on Gaza Cease-Fire
NEW DELHI — Jul 31, 2014, 5:39 PM ET
By LARA JAKES AP National Security Writer
US, UN Announce Deal on Gaza Cease-Fire - ABC News

The United States and United Nations are announcing that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a humanitarian cease-fire to start Friday morning for 72 hours.

In a joint statement, the U.S. and U.N. said they had gotten assurances that all parties to the conflict had agreed to an unconditional cease-fire during which there would be negotiations on a more durable truce.

The statement was released in New Delhi, where Secretary of State John Kerry is now meeting with Indian officials.​

As the joint statement is silent on the issue of Hamas' tunnels, I very much hope that Israel will continue to seek and destroy Hamas' tunnels during the 72-hour ceasefire.

 

[Serenity]

72 hours - a chance for the emergency service personnel to access areas that they are currently unable to and at least attempt to get to the injured and/or deceased.

 

[mbig]

I think one of the main reasons for the Cease Fire was the GRAPHIC vids on American TV Last Night: CNN Most of the night.
An attack on a Gaza square, apparently a second follow-up attack as emergency vehicles were arriving to treat those of the first.
Reports of another attack on a UNRWA school, etc.

There were many spokesman defending Israel. (ambassadorS, etc) But you KNOW they were feeling the damage and it didn't matter what they said: vids were blowing them out of the water.
It's in good part they, I feel, as well as other Israel supporters here, who said/demanded they CANNOT have those pictures on USA TV.
It's simply devastating to Israel.
Tunnels or No Tunnels Donald, they simply can't have that on the tube.
Hamas too, was feeling the same pressure, but looked less guilty, at least in those vids.

So I feel today's Cease Fire is no accident.
No one could take the palpable violence.
It was graphic TV that helped end the Vietnam war and prevented casualties in others.

 

[donsutherland1]

With the joint statement silent on the issue of Hamas' tunnels, it now appears that Israel will continue to search for and destroy such tunnels during the ceasefire. From Reuters:

"Our understanding is that the Israelis will make clear to the U.N. where their lines are, roughly, and they will continue to do operations to destroy tunnels that pose a threat to Israeli territory that lead from the Gaza strip into Israel proper as long as those tunnels exist on the Israel side of their lines," said the State Department official.

Israel, Palestinian militant groups agree to three-day Gaza truce | Reuters

Beyond the 72-hour ceasefire and a subsequent longer-duration ceasefire agreement or set of agreements, it will be imperative for Israel to link Gaza reconstruction to Gaza's demilitarization with a verification mechanism, even if such linkage is unpopular. The recent approach to rid Syria of its chemical weapons arsenal could serve as a model.

There's little doubt that the Palestinian Authority and numerous members of the UN General Assembly will object to such linkage. But the past approaches to ceasefires have proved ineffective, each time resulting in new rounds of conflict.

Unfortunately, odds probably favor Israel's not holding to such linkage, as international pressure placed on Israel to allow rebuilding in the Gaza Strip regardless of whether Hamas and other Gaza terrorist organizations are disarmed will be intense. If, in fact, that is the case, then a tangible opportunity for a sustained ceasefire that would renew opportunities for broader diplomacy and benefit Israeli and Gazan civilians will be lost.

 

[donsutherland1]

For those who are interested, the full text of the joint statement of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and Secretary of State John Kerry is below:

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United States Secretary of State John Kerry announce that the United Nations Representative in Jerusalem, Special Coordinator Robert Serry, has received assurances that all parties have agreed to an unconditional humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

This humanitarian ceasefire will commence at 8 am local time on Friday, August 1, 2014. It will last for a period of 72 hours unless extended. During this time the forces on the ground will remain in place.

We urge all parties to act with restraint until this humanitarian ceasefire begins, and to fully abide by their commitments during the ceasefire.

This ceasefire is critical to giving innocent civilians a much-needed reprieve from violence. During this period, civilians in Gaza will receive urgently needed humanitarian relief, and the opportunity to carry out vital functions, including burying the dead, taking care of the injured and restocking food supplies. Overdue repairs on essential water and energy infrastructure could also continue during this period.

Israeli and Palestinian delegations will immediately be going to Cairo for negotiations with the Government of Egypt, at the invitation of Egypt, aimed at reaching a durable ceasefire. The parties will be able to raise all issues of concern in these negotiations.

We thank key regional stakeholders for their vital support of this process, and count on a continued collaborative international effort to assist Egypt and the parties reach a durable ceasefire as soon as possible.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Statements

 

[PeteEU]

Israel has broken the ceasefire already by killing 8 near Rafa. It is just hitting the wires. Israel claims it was in response to a rocket attack, aka Hamas broke the ceasefire first. More of the usual bs from both sides.

 

[NO1]

Hamas attacks during ceasfire; heavy fighting in south Gaza - Israel News, Ynetnews

Once again Hamas breaks the cease fire after launching rockets and shooting at IDF soldiers in south Gaza. I hope Bibi doesnt make this mistake again and let Kerry (that took Qatar side) force Israel cease fire against her will.
Israel should declare that the cease fire ends due to Hamas actions, and attack those terrorists like any other country.

 

[donsutherland1]

Israel has broken the ceasefire already by killing 8 near Rafa. It is just hitting the wires. Israel claims it was in response to a rocket attack, aka Hamas broke the ceasefire first. More of the usual bs from both sides.

Israel's account appears to be accurate. The ceasefire went into effect at 8 am in Israel.

From Haaretz's breaking news headlines:

10:05 AM Despite cease-fire announcement rocket alert sounds in town near Gaza border (Haaretz)
11:16 AM Four Gaza civilians killed by IDF fire, Hamas say; rockets on Israel resume despite truce (Haaretz)

Israel responded just over an hour after the rocket attack. Later, Haaretz reported:

Some two hours after the truce deal brokered by the United States and the EU kicked in, mortar shells fired from within the Strip landed near a border-regioning town, and shortly thearafter Palestinian medical sources reported that at least 25 Gaza residents were killed and dozens of other wounded by IDF artillery fire directed at the southern Gaza Strip.

LIVE UPDATES: Gaza cease-fire deal over, Israeli official tells UN envoy - Diplomacy and Defense Israel News | Haaretz

Israel has also said that the ceasefire deal is over.

 

[donsutherland1]

Hamas attacks during ceasfire; heavy fighting in south Gaza - Israel News, Ynetnews

Once again Hamas breaks the cease fire after launching rockets and shooting at IDF soldiers in south Gaza. I hope Bibi doesnt make this mistake again and let Kerry (that took Qatar side) force Israel cease fire against her will.
Israel should declare that the cease fire ends due to Hamas actions, and attack those terrorists like any other country.

Israel has been making every effort to show good faith. Hopefully, Israel will now complete its main military objectives now that Hamas violated the ceasefire, as it had earlier ones.

 

[NO1]

Israel has made efforts to show good faith couple times, but its time to look for our needs than trying to convince the world that we are those who fight terrorist organization and not the opposite.

 

[Serenity]

****s sake. There goes the limited but appreciated humanitarian relief opportunity.

Bodies STILL strewn across the dead end streets.

Friday, bloody Friday.

Saturday, bloody Saturday.

Sunday, bloody Sunday.

And the beat goes on.

 

[tech30528]

Hamas agreed to a ceasefire? Must be out of ammo.

 

[washunut]

****s sake. There goes the limited but appreciated humanitarian relief opportunity.

Bodies STILL strewn across the dead end streets.

Friday, bloody Friday.

Saturday, bloody Saturday.

Sunday, bloody Sunday.

And the beat goes on.

Hamas was afraid that this would have been the been of hostilities and the PA would get the recognition they deserved by the people of Gaza. Sad, but the most effective weapon Hamas has in this fight is the death of their own civilians.

 

[Serenity]

the most effective weapon Hamas has in this fight is the death of their own civilians.

I know. I've been fighting for people to recognise that the civilians are just pawns in their idiotics games and are worthy of our humanity for four years here. Sometimes it feels like i'm the only one Washnut.

 

[washunut]

I know. I've been fighting for people to recognise that the civilians are just pawns in their idiotics games and are worthy of our humanity for four years here. Sometimes it feels like i'm the only one Washnut.

I feel there are many others on the site who abhor what is happening to the civilians. They blur things because of their need to build up "their side" in this horrible situation.

As you probably know I am in favor of Israel surviving and their people having the ability to live in peace. War is horrible, the loss of civilians is horrible. But it is also intolerable for the people of Southern Israel to have to live for years in constant fear of rockets. What does this do to thousands of kids who grow up having to run to shelters.

 

[Serenity]

I feel there are many others on the site who abhor what is happening to the civilians. They blur things because of their need to build up "their side" in this horrible situation.

As you probably know I am in favor of Israel surviving and their people having the ability to live in peace. War is horrible, the loss of civilians is horrible. But it is also intolerable for the people of Southern Israel to have to live for years in constant fear of rockets. What does this do to thousands of kids who grow up having to run to shelters.

It's a terrible situation, particularly for the kids involved in the conflict.

I've always shown genuine humanity for both Israeli and Palestinian children caught up in the never ending cycle of violence. I've repeatedly maintained that the rocket attacks are not harmless because they miss their intended targets. I find that argument repulsive as demonstrated here.

People need to understand that the effects of the attacks are also psychological as much as physical. The children living close to the border in particular have never known any other way of life, they were born into the situation. Imagine living like that every second of every day. Constantly hearing the early warning sirens, night and day, with limited time to make it to some sort of shelter.

It's shocking and not much of a life is it. They deserve safe places to play and run free without living in fear too.

I also admit that i am guilty of posting with way too much emotion when i'm discussing their plight and with the escalation of hostilities it's even more difficult to try and keep the emotions aside.

 

[washunut]

It's a terrible situation, particularly for the kids involved in the conflict.

I've always shown genuine humanity for both Israeli and Palestinian children caught up in the never ending cycle of violence. I've repeatedly maintained that the rocket attacks are not harmless because they miss their intended targets. I find that argument repulsive as demonstrated here.



I also admit that i am guilty of posting with way too much emotion when i'm discussing their plight and with the escalation of hostilities it's even more difficult to try and keep the emotions aside.

I do not doubt that you find hurting innocents on either side repulsive. Sorry if you feel I did not convey that in my post.