In Israel and the Occupied Territories, Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo have signed onto an Egyptian proposal for a truce with Israel in the Gaza Strip. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called on Israel to accept the offer and end its military attacks and economic blockade of Gaza.

Ismail Haniyeh: “Today, with this Palestinian reconciliation under the Egyptian mediation, the ball is in the Israeli court, and the Israelis should stop the aggression, the killing and the collective punishment and give the region a bit of truce and calm.”

The Israeli government has dismissed repeated Hamas truce offers, despite polls showing more than 60 percent of Israelis favor negotiations with the group.