Gaza Residents Celebrate Israel-Hamas Ceasefire

Author: jone Date: 14 November, Category: Fact, Visits 2323

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[News of a ceasefire is greeted by wild celebrations on the streets of Gaza, whilst Israeli residents of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are more cautious in their support for the peace deal.

There were noisy celebrations in Gaza and the West Bank City of Ramallah on Wednesday after the announcement of a truce between Israel and Hamas.

The two groups agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Egypt on the eighth day of intensive Israeli fire on the Gaza Strip and militant rocket attacks out of the Palestinian enclave.

Tens of thousands of Gazans poured onto the streets, letting off fireworks, shooting into the air and beeping car horns. Many distributed sweets and hugged one another exchanging wishes of safety and rejoicing at what Hamas termed as a [victory] over Israel.

Israelis in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, both targeted by Gaza rockets in the past week, also welcomed an Egyptian-brokered deal.

[It's the right move, you know, to always cease violence and ceasefire but I would like to learn more about the specifics but in principle I'm for a ceasefire], said Tel Aviv resident, Ze'ev Berman.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr announced the truce in a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The ceasefire came into effect at 19:00 GMT]. – Reuters

Photos: Palestinians celebrate the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza City, Wednesday, November 21, 2012. Israel and the Hamas militant group agreed to a cease-fire Wednesday to end eight days of the fiercest fighting in nearly four years, promising to halt attacks on each other and ease an Israeli blockade constricting the Gaza Strip. (Photos by Adel Hana/AP)