Israel and Hamas have reportedly agreed to a US and UN brokered 72-hour ceasefire that is set to begin Friday at 8:00 a.m. local time.
Israel has now agreed to over eight humanitarian ceasefires. All of the truces that Hamas had also signed on to were violated by the terror group shortly thereafter.
The IDF has called up an additional 16,000 reserves, stacking its ranks to 86,000, the highest number since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge.
Thursday was day 24 of Operation Protective Edge, Israel’s response to indiscriminate and unprovoked rocket fire from terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Hamas fired 90 rocket attacks at Israel Thursday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday, “We have neutralized dozens of terror tunnels and we are committed to complete this mission, with or without a ceasefire.”
An Israeli cabinet member told Ynet News that Israel would continue its operations destroying Hamas terror tunnels during the ceasefire.
The UN released a statement on the matter:
“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.