Israel, Hamas agree to peace deal

Israel said it would abide by the agreement

After a week of fighting that has killed more than 150 people, Israel and the Hamas movement which governs Gaza agreed to a ceasefire Wednesday, Egyptian and Hamas officials said.

The truce comes into effect at 19:00 GMT (21:00 local time), the officials said.

An Egyptian source said the truce includes end to “assassinations” and “incursions,” and will also ease movement of Palestinians, according to news agency Reuters.

Fighting has raged between both sides for eight days with Israeli air strikes targeting sites in Gaza while Hamas rocket attacks from Hamas struck residential areas in Israel.

On Wednesday, a bomb exploded on a bus in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, leaving three people needing surgery. At least 13 people were killed in Gaza.

The Egyptian foreign minister announced the ceasefire at a news conference in Cairo with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who joined negotiations on Wednesday, the BBC said.

For the truce to hold, “the rocket attacks [from Gaza] must end and a broader calm must return,” Mrs. Clinton is quoted as saying.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement saying Israel has accepted the deal.

Mr. Netanyahu consulted with US President Barack Obama before agreeing to the ceasefire, the report said.

But the Prime Minister said he will not lift blockade and warns of more forceful action if ceasefire fails.