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Israel

Ceasefire holds firm as talks continue in Cairo

August 6, 2014 17:28
Israeli troops embrace at a staging post in Southern Israel near the border with Gaza, as Israeli forces prepare to clear the area on August 06, 2014 (Photo: Miriam Alster/Flash90)

By

Daniel Easterman,

Daniel Easterman

1 min read

The latest truce between Israel and Hamas is still in place as negotiators gather in Cairo for permanent ceasefire talks.

The 72-hour pause in the fighting began when Israel unilaterally withdrew its ground forces, initiating a process of de-escalation.

Minutes before the truce began, which came into effect on Tuesday at 6am UK time, Hamas launched a number of rockets against Israel in a revenge attack for what it called Israeli “massacres”.

One missile reached as far as Jerusalem but was intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome system, while another hit a house near Bethlehem. No casualties were reported.