Israel and Hamas call unofficial truce

Hamas, the Palestinian movement currently controlling Gaza and the Israeli government have begun an unofficial ceasefire. The terms of the agreement are not yet public. Reports say the truce was negotiated with the help of Israel. This ceasefire comes after five Israelis were injured and six Palestinians killed from rocket fire exchange across the border. Hamas has stated it was motivated to call a ceasefire by the impending Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha. The truce is tentative and Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu has said Israel is prepared to “embark on a far more extensive and penetrating operation” in response to the violence. The Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades and the Popular Resistance Committees of Palestine, in turn, stated that their attacks were “…in response to the repeated, continuous crimes of the enemy against our people. Amidst this fresh surge of violence the EU’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, is visiting the region in the hopes of once again reviving peace negotiations.