A senior Hamas official said Tuesday that a Gaza long-term ceasefire deal had been reached with Israel under Egyptian mediation, signaling the end to a seven-week war that has killed more than 2,000 people, Reuters reported. Although there was no immediate confirmation from Israel, a formal announcement of an agreement is expected within a couple of hours in Egypt.
"An agreement has been reached between the two sides and we are awaiting the announcement from Cairo to determine the zero hour for implementation," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in Gaza. However, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to comment.
"The negotiations have ended and we have reached understandings that underscore the steadfast stance of the Palestinian people with the victory of the resistance," Hamas' deputy leader in Cairo, Moussa Abu Marzouk said, according to Haaretz. "We are waiting for an official announcement to set the final hour and announce a cease-fire and an end to Israeli aggression."
Ziad Nakhala, a senior official in Islamic Jihad, another faction fighting in Gaza, told the Associated Press that the truce calls for an "open-ended" cease-fire, and an Israeli agreement to ease its blockade. "Palestinians officials said Cairo's initiative called for an indefinite halt to seven weeks of hostilities, the immediate opening of Gaza's blockaded crossings with Israel and Egypt and a widening of the enclave's fishing zone in the Mediterranean," according to Reuters.
"Under a second stage that would begin a month later, Israel and the Palestinians would discuss the construction of a Gaza sea port and an Israeli release of Hamas prisoners in the occupied West Bank, the officials said."
After fighting between Palestine and Israel erupted on July 8, Egypt has been appealing to Israel and Hamas to enact a cease-fire and resume negotiating, which have been meeting in Cairo to nail down a truce. It has also proposed opening key crossing into Gaza to allow shipments of humanitarian aid and materials to repair damaged buildings.
Meanwhile, since both Israel and Egypt view Hamas as a security threat, they have demanded that the Islamic militant group disarm their weapons.
"The development follows a wave of Israeli airstrikes Tuesday that included the bombing of two Gaza City high-rise buildings. At least two people were killed, Palestinian health officials say," according to Voice of America. "One airstrike early Tuesday collapsed a 15-story office and apartment tower. Another severely damaged a second tower containing shops and offices, wounding at least 25 people, Palestinian health officials told the AP."
Since July 8, more than 2,000 Palestinians have died in the war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. In Israel, four civilians and 64 soldiers have been killed, according to the Israeli military, USA Today reported.
