According to a report in Al-Jazeera, Israel has informed the Egyptian mediator that they are willing to unilaterally cease-fire against Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip. The Al Arabiya news site said that Egypt is expected to send inspectors to make sure that the truce is observed. Hamas officials also indicated to Arab media that a ceasefire with Israel is expected to take effect on Friday. As of Thursday evening, the terror groups continue to fire large barrages of rockets at Israel. Previously, the former head of IDF military intelligence Amos Yadlin estimated that no official cease-fire would be reached as neither side would agree to the demands of the other. Yadlin told Channel 12 news that instead, both sides will likely halt fire in a non-formal truce. According to Yadlin, Hamas is demanding an end to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade. It is seeking a commitment that its leaders won’t be attacked by Israel and safe passage between Gaza and the West Bank. Yadlin added that Israel will not want to agree to any of these conditions. Yadlin said that Israel is demanding complete quiet, including the cessation of incendiary devices being fired from Gaza; the disarming of Gaza, or at least that Hamas not rearm now, the return of the bodies of two IDF soldiers, and freedom for Israeli civilians held in the enclave. The security cabinet has been in a meeting to discuss the possibility of a cease-fire since 7:00 p.m. Israel time. Over the course of the day on Thursday, from the morning until 8:00 p.m. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad fired 299 rockets at Israel, Israel returned fire and attacked numerous targets belonging to the terrorist organization in the Strip, but sources within the government and military have said that the IDF has achieved its goals in the mission. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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