Report: Egypt has brokered Israel-Hamas ceasefire

JTA

Egyptian officials told Reuters they had brokered a truce between Israel and Hamas to end four days of cross-border fire between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

The Reuters report late Monday quoted unnamed Egyptian officials. Neither Hamas nor Israel would confirm the report, and the terms of the truce were unclear.

Militant groups in Gaza launched a barrage of rockets at Israel last Friday after Israel assassinated Zuhair Qaisi, leader of the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza, which the Israel Defense Forces believed was planning a terrorist strike in Israel. More than 150 rockets were launched, injuring eight civilians in Israel, including one who was severely wounded.

Israeli authorities said the Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepted 90 percent of the missiles, including 28 out of 31 long-range Grad rockets targeting major Israeli cities such as Beersheba, Ashdod and Ashkelon.

At least 25 Palestinians, including a 14-year-old, were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza.

The IDF Home Front Command ordered schools closed again Monday in cities and towns located up to 25 miles from the Gaza border, affecting about 200,000 children, after being closed on Sunday.

Classes at colleges and universities in the area also were closed.