Gaza: Palestinians announce ceasefire

The Palestinians accepted a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on Sunday night, after a severe bout of two-day violence that woke up the specter of war in the enclave. Three officials, an Egyptian and two Palestinians, announced the news.

Palestinian rocket fire and Israeli retaliatory strikes ceased before the break of day on Monday.

No confirmation has been obtained from the Israeli side, which generally refrains from corroborating such truces. But as the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan approached, Palestinian rocket fire and Israeli retaliatory strikes actually stopped before the break of day, at the cease-fire time indicated by those responsible.

After two days of tension, which killed four people on the Israeli side and 23 Palestinians, the Egyptian neighbor, a traditional intermediary between Palestinians and Israel in Gaza, forged a cessation of hostilities agreement that came into force at 4:30 am (3:30 am in Paris).......