Yesterday, Twitter was rife with conflicting reports about an Egypt-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Reports of an agreement turned out to be false, but today, after days of bloody violence, a ceasefire has apparently been declared. The agreement was announced in Cairo by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and is set to go into effect at 9 p.m. Cairo time:
EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANNOUNCES GAZA CEASEFIRE
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 21, 2012
Egyptian foreign minister announces a cease-fire deal between Israel, Hamas to start at 9 pm Cairo time – @guardiannews http://t.co/w8ykhJ2k
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) November 21, 2012
CBS’ Mark Knoller reports:
In Cairo, Secy of State Clinton calls ceasefire agreement "a step in the right direction we should build on."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 21, 2012
"Ultimately, every step must move us toward comprehensive peace," says Secy Clinton in Cairo.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 21, 2012
Announcement of ceasefire made by Egyptian Foreign Minister and Secy Clinton in Cairo. Neither he nor Clinton took questions.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 21, 2012
WH says Pres Obama phoned Israeli PM Netanyahu and commended him for "agreeing to the Egyptian ceasefire proposal."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 21, 2012
Naturally, Obama found a way to take credit for the ceasefire:
WH says Pres Obama urged Netanyahu to agree to the Egyptian ceasefire proposal while reiterating Israel's right to defend itself.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 21, 2012
Of course he did.
WH says Pres Obama told Netanyahu the US would use ceasefire to help Israel "address its security needs" esp smuggling of weapons to Gaza.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 21, 2012
WH also says Pres assured Netanyahu that US committed to seeking addtl funding for Iron Dome & other US-Israel missile defense pgms.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 21, 2012
WH says Pres Obama also phoned Pres Morsi of Egypt to thank him for his efforts to "achieve a sustainable ceasefire."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 21, 2012
WH says Pres Obama and Morsi also agreed on importance of working toward "a more durable solution" to situation in Gaza.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 21, 2012
WH says Pres Obama reaffirmed "close partnership" between US & Egypt and welcomed Morsi's "commitment to regional security."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 21, 2012
Noteworthy word in Israeli statement: Says Netanyahu "acceded" to Pres. Obama's recommendation to give Egyptian ceasefire proposal a chance.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 21, 2012
Israeli statement also says Netanyahu offered "deep appreciation" to Pres Obama for his support of Israel.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 21, 2012
Israeli statement also says Netanyahu reiterated to Pres Obama that Israel would take "all necessary steps to defend its citizens."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) November 21, 2012
Twitterers are naturally skeptical that the agreement will stick:
https://twitter.com/BonzoTMonkey/status/271311761565687808
https://twitter.com/AnnaBeTweetin/status/271311737272270849
https://twitter.com/NannyMayor/status/271309664505954304
There can be a ceasefire announcement but with Hamas' pigs in charge, there will never really be a ceasefire. Drive them into the sea.
— #DeplorableMe (@JCinQC) November 21, 2012
A ceasefire is agreed. All praying it'll last – but who's betting not more than 48 hrs.
— Yitzchak Schochet (@RabbiYYS) November 21, 2012
https://twitter.com/edward_bea/status/271316274934579200
https://twitter.com/dparkerwillis/status/271314803467886592
I don't know about you guys, but I have a BAD feeling about this cease fire. Rockets continue to fall in the South. This is WRONG.
— Marc Leibowitz (@Marc_Leibowitz) November 21, 2012
@JeffreyGoldberg Hold your praise. We're a far way from peace between Israel & Gaza. Code Red still announced every few minutes on Galatz.
— Marc Leibowitz (@Marc_Leibowitz) November 21, 2012
More Code Red warnings announced. I love our peaceful neighbors. Maybe they'll get lucky and kill a few more of us before the deadline…
— Marc Leibowitz (@Marc_Leibowitz) November 21, 2012
Code Red just announced in Ashkelon, Nitzan, Nitzanim, Netivot, Ashdod, etc…. Buildings hit. Get it?
— Marc Leibowitz (@Marc_Leibowitz) November 21, 2012
If the ceasefire indeed goes into effect, we can only hope that it lasts. Sadly, Israel has been down this road too many times before. We continue to pray for the Israeli people and for peace.
Update:
Here are the terms of the ceasefire.
https://twitter.com/NoahPollak/status/271319883470499843
Update:
Though the ceasefire has officially gone into effect, Hamas doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo:
"Ceasefire? What ceasefire?" — What folks in southern Israel would be tweeting right now, if they were able to leave their bomb shelters.
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) November 21, 2012
9:18PM IL: “Red Alert” sirens now ringing in Sderot
— ✟ Right Scoop ✟ (@trscoop) November 21, 2012
9:35PM IL: Sirens sounding in the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council area now – 35 minutes after the “ceasefire”.
— ✟ Right Scoop ✟ (@trscoop) November 21, 2012
9:43PM IL: Red alert now in Shar Hanegev Regional Council – 43 minutes after the “ceasefire”.
— ✟ Right Scoop ✟ (@trscoop) November 21, 2012
Reports of multiple rocket attacks from Gaza after 2PM EST cease-fire http://t.co/FdN9gs1G
— ✟ Right Scoop ✟ (@trscoop) November 21, 2012
https://twitter.com/UltimediaForge/status/271345974004289536
https://twitter.com/Gabby_Hoffman/status/271345519811522560
I'm sure #Hamas hasn't ceased firing cuz they just don't know about the Cease Fire. As soon as the information gets to the leaders…. -.-
— My name is Rachel and I'm here to waste my time (@getoffmyplanet) November 21, 2012
Never trust a scoundrel. RT @MaxCUA: Hamas Just Fired Rocket Into Ashdod, Israel.
— Emily Zanotti (@emzanotti) November 21, 2012
https://twitter.com/SethAMandel/status/271357535339020288
Awful. We pray for Israel’s safety.
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