Israeli aggression: Egypt brokers Gaza ceasefire

“Egypt calls on all to monitor the implementation of what has been agreed under Egypt’s sponsorship," says Amr.

Egypt announced on Wednesday that a ceasefire had been reached to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, starting later in the day.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr made the announcement in a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The ceasefire would come into effect at 1900 GMT, said Amr, whose country has been at the heart of efforts to broker an end to the conflict.

“Egypt has made great efforts ... since the start of the latest escalation in the Gaza Strip,” Amr said. “These efforts and contacts have resulted in understandings to cease fire and restore calm and halt the bloodshed that the last period has seen,” he added. “Egypt calls on all to monitor the implementation of what has been agreed under Egypt’s sponsorship and to guarantee the commitment of all the parties to what has been agreed,” he said.

In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has agreed to “give a chance” to an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire.

“A short while ago Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with (US) President Barack Obama and agreed to his recommendation to give a chance to an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire and thereby give an opportunity for the stabilisation of the situation and a calming of it before there is a need to use greater force,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

In Washington, President Obama thanked his Egyptian counterpart for his role is negotiating the Gaza truce.

“The president thanked President Morsi for his efforts to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and for his personal leadership in negotiating a ceasefire proposal,” the White House said in a statement. AGENCIES