Israel and Gaza Strip militants began to observe another Egypt-brokered truce, giving negotiators time to craft a more enduring accord after a month of violence in the Hamas-ruled territory.
Palestinian envoys attending truce talks in Cairo agreed to the Egyptian proposal, Hamas's official Al-Rai news agency said. An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to comment publicly, Saturday confirmed his country also had accepted Egypt's plan for a 72-hour cease- fire.
As Israel and Hamas halt the fighting, they are struggling to reach a longer truce as each side seeks concessions. Israel wants Gaza demilitarized while Hamas is pressing to end a blockade Israel imposed in 2006, citing security concerns, after the militant group won Palestinian elections.