Israel confirms ceasefire

2008-06-18 08:14

Jerusalem - Israel confirmed on Wednesday that a ceasefire with the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip will begin on Thursday.

If the fighting indeed ceases, Israel will next week agree to ease the blockade of the Gaza Strip, Israeli defence officials said.

In tandem with the easements, talks on efforts to release an Israeli soldier held by Hamas will be intensified, the officials said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks.

Egypt, the mediator of the talks, had announced the agreement on Tuesday, saying that it will begin on Thursday at 03:00 GMT. Hamas confirmed the deal shortly afterward.

Egypt has committed as part of the deal to stop the smuggling of arms and weapons into the Gaza Strip, the officials said. A US military engineering corps is slated 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 the opening of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, the officials said.

The truce was meant to end a violent cycle of Palestinian rocket attacks that have killed seven Israelis over the past year and Israeli reprisals that have killed more than 400 Palestinians.

- AP