Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to abide by a new 72-hour ceasefire in Gaza, after Israel resolved to resume talks in Egypt with no pre-conditions.
Fighting had resumed after a previous three-day ceasefire expired at the weekend, reports Radio New Zealand.
Israeli negotiators are to return to Cairo today to resume indirect talks with the Palestinians if the truce holds, a senior Israeli government official said.
In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry urged both sides to exploit this truce to resume indirect negotiations immediately and work towards a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire agreement.
Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said that Israel would not negotiate under fire, and warned of a protracted Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip if rocket salvoes continued.
A month of war has killed 1895 Palestinians and 67 Israelis while devastating wide tracts of densely-populated Gaza.
Hospital officials in the territory say the Palestinian death toll has been mainly civilian since the 8 July launch of Israel’s military campaign to quell Gaza rocket fire. Israel has lost 64 soldiers and three civilians to the war.
Losses of non-combatants in Gaza and the destruction of thousands of homes have drawn international condemnation.
