Update 4:30 pm:
Several rockets were launched from Gaza toward south Israel after 9 pm Wednesday, when the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect. The IDF held its fire.
Air raid sirens were heard after 9 pm in Eshkol, Sderot and the Hof Ashkelon and Sha’ar Hanegev regional councils. Rockets landed in the Eshkol and Sha’ar Hanegev regional councils, but there were no reports of injury or damage.
Sirens were sounded in Ashdod, Kiryat Malachi and surrounding communities shortly after 10 pm. The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted one rocket over Ashdod. Around 10:30 sirens were heard in Ashdod, Gan Yave and Gedera.
IDF Spokesman Brigadier-General Yoav Mordechai confirmed that the ceasefire had taken effect at 9 pm in accordance with the political echelon’s instructions. “The IDF has stopped firing at the Strip and will open fire only if our forces are put in danger,” he said.
The IDF spokesman added that a decision on whether to release the reserve forces would be made on Thursday.
Update 3:00 pm:
Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman held a joint news conference Wednesday evening announcing the ceasefire. However, Hamas kept on firing rockets, and a siren sounded at 9:15 p.m. in Ashkelon and other locations.
Egypt announced on Wednesday that a cease-fire had been reached to end eight days of fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, starting at 9 p.m.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr made the announcement in a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
“These efforts … have resulted in understandings to cease fire and restore calm and halt the bloodshed that the last period has seen,” Amr said.
Israel has agreed to the truce, but will not lift its blockade of Gaza as part of the deal, according to an Israeli official.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman were set to address the media at 8.30 pm. Wednesday night.
Netanyahu told US President Barack Obama on Wednesday he was ready to give a cease-fire with Hamas a chance, his office said in a statement.
“(Netanyahu) spoke a short while ago with President Barack Obama and agreed to his recommendation to give the Egyptian cease-fire proposal a chance, and in this way provide an opportunity to stabilize the situation and calm it before any more forceful action would be necessary,” an Israeli statement said.
More than 140 Palestinians and five Israelis have been killed in the fighting that began last Wednesday.
The cease-fire was forged despite a bus bomb explosion that wounded 28 Israelis in Tel Aviv earlier in the day and despite more Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.
can all please vote.Israel needs you.all my 30 votes are good – but not engouh.Palestine can CHAS V’SHALOM take a lead and its dangerous to Isreal. we need to show the world that more are for Israel and supporting them every step of the way
#19
THE TRUTH
PASTE LINK BELOW: SUMS UP NETANYAHU AND WHAT IDF THINK OF HIM AND EVERYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER!
http://www.vosizneias.com/117962/eid/35584726
Well Said!
They know they are good as dead as soon as IDF enters Gaza. They are no match for mega might of Israel. If i am not mistaken there are more soldiers in the IDF than civilians and terrorists of Gaza put together. Never mind IDF is smarter.
Once again capitulation to World opinion when the job is only half done. When will our stupid dumb G-dless israeli government ever going to learn that appeasement is weakness annd emboldens our enemies further.
“Listen to the Rebbe”. Well, it’s too late now, they haven’t listened to the Rebbe and they have backed themselves into a corner.
The “Eynei Hashem Elokecha Bah” is not effective unless there is a “Keli” to absorb that blessing. The Rebbe told Israels leaders how to make that “Keli” and they failed.
Albert Einshtein
defined the word Meshugener as follows:
One who repeats the same mistake expecting different results. The answer is Mochoy Timcheh Es Zeicher Zecher
Amaleik Mitachas Hashomaim LO TISHKACH!!!
THEY WANT A CEASE FIRE FOR TWO reasons. One, so that they can reorganize and replenish their amunition and two because they are basically PETRIFIED of what Israel is capable of doing to them!!! and Israel as usual is insane to fall for it. Madam Hill airy doesn’t give a hoot about Israeli lives and is only concerned with coming back looking good at how well she accomplished her mission.
POOR ISRAEL!!
Israel cease’s and they fire
What a weakling loser!!!!
Lasted 21 minutes….its time to use this opportunity to get the right people into the Likud and then force the Govt to handle this business properly… islam means I slam you down till you come begging for mercy…then you learn how to behave…
Bibi speaks all day how he met the Rebbe….
Let him keep to what the Rebbe says:
“And its crazy how America and the UN is telling us what to do, Our country, Our people.
We do what ever we want its not up to obama and the UN what and how we are going to protect OUR country.
Isreal should not listen to America and the UN etc.!
topple hamas
Cea$e fire that’$ how it$ done.
its like the yetzer tov and the yetzer hara say ceasefire
They have already been firing at Israel since the cease fire!! You cant talk with terrorists, you destroy!! Israel definately has the power to bomb the whole gaza!!
Ceasefire = we cease, they fire
i spoke with guys in IDF friday they said “Yup we are going in on sunday” i said “blah blah blah, i bet u a cease fire by the end of a week” to 2 Israel has been there done that ohhh!! who cares how many times!! each time with the same results, it’s “nice” to hear Bibi’ Boom in a powerfull voice and then see him as another paper tiger. to 3 obviously u don’t know the Rebbe’s oppinion on the matter a strong response a strong army prevents war …..not make things worse WHEN WILL WE KNOCK SOME… Read more »
Doesn’t he realize these stupid idiots don’t keep their words???!!?!?! I’m so dissappointed
israel didnt agree to lift blockade… how long do u think it lasts anyway???
after watching how hamas treated those “spies” of israel, easy for u to say “send in the troops.
u pray for peace… not for war!!!
Unfornitly the world runs on politics , by bibi “agreeing” to a cease fire , if even 1 more rocket is fired @ Israel after the deadline he will have Obama & other world leaders approval to go in on the ground & do what he has to do… POLITICS…
according to this logic;
a doctor cutting out a tumour r’l should stop mid operation and sew up the sick person because others can’t see a cut body.
INSANE.
what doesn’t kill them will make them stronger R’L
Israel: a wise nation, gone crazy.
Rockets all now falling AFTER the Cease Fire.
Bibi just said ” i send my condolences to the families of the victims”
Bibi ! SEND BOMBS! NOT CONDOLENCES !!!
INSANE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! never ending tragedy………….