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De facto truce in W. Asia

DUBAI: Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas are observing a de facto ceasefire following back channel contacts involving Egyptian mediators. After heavy fighting lasting five days, Israeli ground troops ended their incursion of parts of northern Gaza. There has also been a sharp decline in the rocket firings targeting Israel from Gaza over the weekend.

While acknowledging that restraint was being exercised, Israeli authorities said a formal ceasefire had still not been achieved. Hamas representatives corroborated this view. However, talks involving Egyptian mediators continued.

Israeli authorities said Israel would not attack Gaza as long as rockets were not fired from the Hamas-controlled coastal strip.

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