JERUSALEM
The Israeli government on Thursday declined to confirm or deny reports of a new ceasefire deal with Gaza-based Palestinian resistance faction Hamas.
"I am sorry, but we cannot comment on that," Ofir Gendelman, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told Anadolu Agency.
Media reports have suggested that a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions in the blockaded Gaza Strip would come into effect as of 6am GMT Friday.
A U.N.-proposed five-hour humanitarian ceasefire between the Palestinian factions and Israel came into effect on Thursday morning.
Since July 7, Israeli warplanes have pounded the Gaza Strip with the ostensible aim of ending Palestinian rocket fire from the besieged coastal enclave.
At least 227 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed so far – and more than 1700 injured, many seriously – in the unrelenting airstrikes.
Gaza-based resistance factions, for their part, have continued to fire rockets at Israel – some of which have reached Tel Aviv – in response.
One Israeli has been killed as a result of rocket fire from Gaza.
The ongoing military operation, dubbed "Operation Protective Edge," is Israel's third major offensive against the embattled Gaza Strip – home to some 1.8 million Palestinians – in the last six years.
By Turgut Alp Boyraz
www.aa.com.tr/en
