Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Egypt is assuming responsibility for this cease fire which will begin at 2:00 p.m. E.T. (90 minutes away) She says now we have to focus on implementation, but it is difficult to hear as an Arabic translator is speaking over here.
CNN is making clear this is not a truce, or peace agreement but merely a pause in hostilities.
9:37 AM PT: Caution is in order, though, as CNN announced an impending cease fire yesterday morning, which did not manifest. Yesterday, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Netanyahu said he wanted to see a 24 hours period of calm before agreeing to a formal cease fire.
9:41 AM PT: Israel-Gaza Ceasefire: Hamas And Israel Reportedly Agree To Truce
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GAZA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Israel and the Islamist militant group Hamas agreed on Wednesday to a Gaza ceasefire deal, said a Palestinian official with knowledge of Egyptian mediation between the two sides.
The official declined to be named or to give further information.
There was no immediate official confirmation of the news, which came on the eighth day of intensive Israeli fire on the Gaza Strip and militant rocket attacks out of the Palestinian territory.
9:47 AM PT: Israel, Hamas agree to cease-fire
CAIRO — Egypt announced cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas effective Wednesday evening local time, 1 p.m. Chicago time.
The truce agreement would end the weeklong fighting between the two sides.
In details of the agreement, Israel would cease all military activity against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, and Palestinian militants would cease rocket attacks into Israel. After 24 hours of quiet, Gaza’s border crossings with Israel would be opened further to allow freer movement of goods and people.
Egypt would be the guarantor of the deal, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
9:52 AM PT: ABC confirms that PM Netanyahu's spokespeople confirm their agreement.
Egypt: Gaza Cease-Fire Reached
By MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH Associated Press
CAIRO November 21, 2012 (AP)
Egypt has announced a cease-fire agreement to end a week of fighting between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr said the truce would take effect at 9 p.m. local time (2 p.m. EDT.) He made the announcement alongside visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the deal, saying he had agreed after consulting with President Barack Obama.