Truce agreed in the Gaza strip - Palestinians hold demo in Valletta
Updated 8.45 p.m.
Celebrations have broken out in the Gaza Strip as a truce came into force at 8 p.m. after a week of intensive bombing by Israel.
Fireworks and gunshots were fired in celebration as the Palestinians viewed the truce as a victory, having averted a ground invasion by Israel.
The truce was announced in Egypt this evening by Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr in a joint news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"These efforts ... have resulted in understandings to cease fire and restore calm and halt the bloodshed that the last period has seen," Amr said.
Israeli officials said Israel had agreed to a truce but will not lift its blockade of the Palestinian territory.
The ceasefire has ended eight days of fighting in Gaza that has killed more than 140 Palestinians and five Israelis.
VALLETTA DEMO
Meanwhile, a crowd of some 100 mostly Palestinian people held a demonstration in Valletta this evening, condemning the Israeli bombing of the Gaza strip.
The demonstrators carried a large Palestinian flag and a number of placards as they walked down Republic Street, shouting slogans.
At one time the police asked the organisers to stop the blaring protest music. The music was stopped for a short while and then restarted.
In front of the law courts, those taking part also lit candles.
The Palestinian Ambassador said the Israeli actions had gone way beyond what could be described as self-defence, with whole families being obliterated in Gaza.
Israel says it launched the attacks to stop the firing of rockets from Gaza into southern Israel.
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Carmel Attard
Jan 4th, 12:42
Hamas retaliates ..not provokes!! So many of you are so biased and misinformed, and brainwashed by Western US Israhel's Propaganda!!! Say no more..It is a shame!!! But the Truth will win!! Evil will find it's very place in Hell. >IIf there is one!!!!
Lawrence Attard
Nov 23rd 2012, 13:47
Hamas recycled syrian deaths as their own - unbelievable ? not this happened before.
http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/116907/hamas-recycles-pictures-of-syrian-dead
Alfred Falzon
Nov 23rd 2012, 08:57
Hamas are terrorists intent on destroying Israel even if they have to sacrifice their own people!
They breed on ignorance and religious fanatism!
Alf A Falzon
Carmel Attard
Jan 4th, 13:02
You are absolutely brainwashed..why don't you go to Gaza and see with your own eyes!
Shaun Anthony Camilleri
Nov 22nd 2012, 11:09
Why do they demonstrate here? Why don't they go and help their people where they need it if they care so much? What more do they want from us? If they want Israel to stop bombing them (they should stop first) they should write their placards in Hebrew and prance about in front of the Jewish media and not here.
Luciano Chetcuti
Nov 22nd 2012, 09:29
Truce. Mill-Milied sa San Stiefnu. Dawn in-nazzjonijiet ilhom jiggieldu bejniethom mijiet u eluf ta' snin.
Jalla tibqa' bejniethom, imma m'ghandix fiducja wisq.
Lawrence Attard
Nov 22nd 2012, 09:11
@ Mr. T Zahra no Israeli civilian or military personnel is present in Gaza, Israel disengaged from Gaza 7 years ago. Are u 7 years behind times? I don't read books I lived there Mr Zahra. Gaza was taken by Israel from Egypt, which occupied the Gaza Strip between 1948 - 1967. Whilst the West Bank of the Jordan river was occupied and annexed as part of Jordan.There was never a Palestinian state ever
Mark Anthony Sammut
Nov 22nd 2012, 08:56
In solidarity with the Palestinian people:
http://markanthonysammut.blogspot.com/2012/11/shema-yisrael-cries-of-palestinian.html
Lawrence Attard
Nov 22nd 2012, 10:58
I followed the blog indicated and the blogger anonymous literally made mincemeat out of your pathetic biased scribble. Pity he didn't reveal his name as I would have congratulated him personally, MA Sammut grow up
Lawrence Attard
Nov 22nd 2012, 08:41
@ Martin Cassar - you are incoherent. @ James Dewar cpagius and their the anti Israeli retoric ... is this acceptable to you from your "friends" vide http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=6481&hp=1 Also Israel stopped "occupying Gaza 7 LONG years ago so wake up from your slumber!
Mr T Zahra
Nov 22nd 2012, 08:49
Israel did NOT stop occupying Gaza lawrence....stop reading the wrong books and propaganda collateral
Robert Callus
Nov 22nd 2012, 08:59
Stopped occupying Gaza? Speaks volumes about what kind of material you read!
Mr T Zahra
Nov 22nd 2012, 08:36
To the majority of people who have written comments here, may I suggest you get your facts right and understand why these two countries keep fighting. Such ignorance and narrow mindedness in this country makes me sick
stephen koludrovic
Nov 22nd 2012, 08:21
Hamas first provokes by firing missiles, then they get some of their people killed and half their town destroyed, after which they ask for a truce, and then to cap it all they shout victory. Crazy people.
Martin Cassar
Nov 22nd 2012, 11:33
@stephen koludrovic
UN's office in East Jerusalem says the escalation began when Israel assassinated a senior Hamas commander on 14 November.
The US-based NGO Human Rights Watch says it began when Israeli fire killed a 13-year-old Palestinian boy on 8 November.
Hamas has all right to defend its citizens and fight ILLEGAL OCCUPATION. Period.
Mario Sammut
Nov 22nd 2012, 06:35
Do your protesting and demonstrations in your undemocratic state if you please . We are a peaceful island and do not get involved in the affairs and wars of other countries . It is my right as a citizen of this island to say so as well .
Robert Callus
Nov 22nd 2012, 08:43
Though luck Mario Sammut. We also happen to be a democratic country where freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are considered as fundamental human rights.
You have every right to disagree with them - and say it in public - but not to stop them. Otherwise we would have to throw democracy out of the window. Thanks, but no thanks.
Lawrence Attard
Nov 22nd 2012, 11:03
@ Robert Callus, if we weren't a democratic country we wouldn't tolerate the antics and shanadoos of anarchists and their elk, what might be termed as rebels without a cause
Joseph Ellul
Nov 22nd 2012, 06:05
Gaza stopped the missiles but then Lebanon started. Hamas is just an octopus of death. They kill anyone who challenges them. They even killed Fattah Palestinians. What good is it to have a party of death ? In the end it is death that triumphs.
Connie Deguara
Nov 22nd 2012, 03:08
Remember the Israeli have been taking their land bit by bit.
Goran Savic
Nov 22nd 2012, 01:38
Hamas wont stop to provoke,so we will see this "movie" again soon
Martin Cassar
Nov 21st 2012, 22:41
Are those same Hamas Israel failed with 4 years ago?
Then Israel miserably fails to finish a way they initiate!
The US-based NGO Human Rights Watch says it began when Israeli fire killed a 13-year-old Palestinian boy on 8 November.
Hamas is simply retaliating from the West-supported illegal Zionists 65 years old occupation. Well done Hamas for fighting Zionsis terrorism.
V Mercieca
Nov 21st 2012, 21:32
May this ceasefire last for ever. Loss of life is too dear in war
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 21st 2012, 21:09
Did they disobey Police orders then?
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Nov 21st 2012, 20:44
"At one time the police asked the organisers to stop the blaring protest music. The music was stopped for a short while and then restarted."
These people do what they feel like, I can see why they would be a problem to their neighbours.
James Dewar
Nov 21st 2012, 22:42
Do you know what you would "feel like" on hearing that your fellow countrymen (and children) were no longer going to be targeted by air attacks?
@ Mary Ann Borg: And if they did? In a country of "free speech" and in the circumstances it seems an inappropriate request from Police to stop the music.
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Nov 22nd 2012, 10:21
@ James Dewar,
"Do you know what you would "feel like" on hearing that your fellow countrymen (and children) were no longer going to be targeted by air attacks?"
If they want to not be targeted by air attacks then they should not fire rockets at Israel.
You don't want to pull on the lion's tail if you live in the same cage as the lion.
They reaped what they have sown.
twanny borg
Nov 21st 2012, 20:23
hekk sewwa mela jipprotestaw ghax israel jipprotegi c-cittadini tieghu mir-rockets waqt li l-palestinjani jisparaw rockets direttament fuq nies civili, israel jaghmel minn kollox biex jevita imwiet civili. protesta banali. dawn lanqas obdew lill-pulizija maltin imsomma kollha l-istess.
c p agius
Nov 22nd 2012, 06:02
Israel can't claim to be defending itself from Palestinians......How can a military occupier claim to be defending itself against the population which it is crushing?
David Farrugia
Nov 21st 2012, 19:37
"a crowd of some 100 mostly Palestinian people held a demonstration in Valletta this evening, condemning the Israeli bombing of the Gaza strip" Why don't they protest at their own people firing rockets indiscriminately at Israeli civilian cities?
James Dewar
Nov 21st 2012, 22:45
Maybe a closer study of the history of the dispute between two countries over the past 60 years would give some clues and perhaps even answer your question.
Joe Morana
Nov 21st 2012, 19:24
"Egypt announced this evening that a ceasefire had been reached to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip"
Good news may both sides of the conflict engage in meaningful negotiations to reach an mutually beneficial agreement
Ian Glazier
Nov 21st 2012, 19:14
Can these people tell us who fired first.
Jeff Andrews
Nov 22nd 2012, 01:40
It is not who fired first!! Its who will fire last! Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran etc will never let peace prevail, it is not in their DNA. They will not be happy until Israel is gone, so this ceasefire is just a pause. I wish it wasn't.
Albert Mifsud
Nov 21st 2012, 19:05
Let's wait and see whether the rocket firing into Israel stops permanently, and whether there are zero further terrorist threats against Israel. Sadly, Hamas has attacked Israel so many times that we can only hope that they will take this opportunity to show that they are willing to live in peace next door to another State.
Please choose the reason of your report below: