Celebrations, recriminations as Gaza truce holds

ISRAEL: Israeli politicians on Thursday returned to the campaign trail as the streets of Gaza came back to life after a truce ended eight days of bloodshed, with both sides claiming victory while remaining wary.

Following a night of quiet skies after an Egyptian-brokered truce deal came into effect at 1900 GMT, Gaza's Hamas Prime Minister hailed the territory's multiple militant groups for respecting the ceasefire.

And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government was "giving the ceasefire a chance" but was prepared for the eventuality it could collapse. The agreement, announced in Egypt on Wednesday night by Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, calls on Israel to "stop all hostilities... in the land, sea and air, including incursions and targeting of individuals."

AFP