Israel OKs Extending Ceasefire for 24 Hours

But country says it will respond to Gaza attacks
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 26, 2014 5:07 PM CDT
Israel OKs Extending Ceasefire for 24 Hours
Palestinians gather around the rubble of a building where at least 20 members of the Al Najar extended family were killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, July 26, 2014.   (Eyad Baba)

Despite new reports of rocket fire from Hamas, Israel's Cabinet has decided to extend a truce for 24 hours, until midnight local time tomorrow. However, it warned that its military would respond to any fire from Gaza and would continue to demolish Hamas military tunnels during this period. A temporary lull today saw Palestinians return to neighborhoods reduced to rubble and allowed medics to collect close to 150 bodies, said a Palestinian health official. John Kerry and European foreign ministers, meeting in Paris, had hoped to transform the ceasefire into a more sustainable truce. That effort was thrown into doubt with the Hamas' earlier rejection of a four-hour extension. (More Hamas stories.)

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