Israel Confirms Cease-Fire With Hamas to Begin Thursday

AP

June 19, FoxNews

JERUSALEM — Israel officially confirmed Wednesday that a cease-fire with the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip will begin in an effort to end a year of fighting that has killed more than 400 Palestinians and seven Israelis.

If the fighting indeed ceases Thursday as planned, Israel will ease its blockade of Gaza next week, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said. At the same time, talks to release an Israeli soldier held by Hamas will intensify, Regev said.

Egypt, which brokered the talks, announced a six-month agreement on Tuesday, saying it would begin Thursday at 6 a.m. (0300 GMT). Hamas confirmed the deal shortly afterward, and so did Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity. But there was no official confirmation from Israel until Wednesday.

"Thursday will be the beginning we hope of a new reality where Israeli citizens in the south will no longer be on the receiving end of continuous rocket attacks," Regev said. "Israel is giving a serious chance to this Egyptian initiative and we want it to succeed."

Egypt has committed as part of the deal to stop the smuggling of arms and weapons from its territory into Gaza, Israeli defense officials said. A U.S. military engineering corps is to aid the Egyptian efforts, the officials said.

If Israel determines that Egyptian anti-smuggling efforts are serious, Hamas, Egypt and European officials will begin talks on opening Gaza's main gateway, the Rafah crossing into Egypt, Israeli defense officials said Wednesday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the sensitive talks were still in progress.

On Wednesday, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said, "We in Hamas are committed to what we have declared."

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photo: June 17: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is welcomed by children during his visit at a school in the town of Netivot, southern Israel (AP)