The Israeli government has officially accepted an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire deal to go into effect at 7 p.m. Israel-time (16:00 GMT). Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu informed cabinet ministers of the decision via a telephone call, just minutes before it was to go into effect.
Communications Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) and Economics Minister Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home) both opposed the truce decision, saying the government needed to crush Gazan terrorist groups. Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas announced news of the ceasefire at a televised speech in Ramallah.