New Gaza ceasefire goes into effect

GAZA CITY (AA) - A new 72-hour ceasefire brokered by Egypt between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel in the blockaded Gaza Strip went into effect on Monday. Qais Abdel-Karim, a member of the Palestinian delegation currently in Cairo, told Anadolu Agency late Sunday that they had notified Egypt of endorsing its proposal for a new three-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. "The Egyptian side has also informed us that Israel had approved the ceasefire too," he said.
He added that the Egyptian government had told them that an Israeli delegation would arrive in Cairo Monday to resume indirect negotiations for a long-term arrangement.
Israel has notified Egyptian of endorsing its proposal for a new 72-hour ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Israel's Channel 2 reported earlier.
Egypt has earlier asked Israel and Palestinian factions to observe a 72-hour ceasefire starting Monday.
"This truce is aimed at facilitating the movement of humanitarian aid supplies; repairing infrastructure and resuming indirect talks between the two parties in hopes of reaching a permanent, comprehensive ceasefire," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
An earlier 72-hour ceasefire, also brokered by Egypt, expired on Friday.
Palestinian factions launched several rockets at Israel as soon as the ceasefire expired, blaming Israel for failure to renew the ceasefire during the Cairo talks.
More than 1939 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks on Gaza since July 7, while more than 10,000 others injured.
Israel says "Operation Protective Edge" – its deadliest offensive on the Gaza Strip in six years – aims at halting rocket attacks from Gaza.
According to Israeli figures, at least 64 soldiers were killed in battles with Palestinian fighters in the Gaza Strip and three civilians in rocket attacks.