A three-day cease-fire on the Gaza Strip began Friday after Israel and Hamas agreed Thursday to an unconditional, 72-hour humanitarian cease-fire in the conflict.
The cease-fire took effect at 8 am local time and is expected to last for a period of 72 hours unless it's extended. Military forces will be expected to stay in place during the cease-fire.
"This is not a time for congratulations or joy or anything except a serious determination — a focus by everybody to try to figure out the road ahead," Secretary of State John Kerry said in New Delhi Thursday, where he was meeting with Indian officials. "This is a respite. It is a moment of opportunity, not an end."
The U.S. and U.N. said they had gotten assurances that all parties to the conflict had agreed to an unconditional cease-fire during which there would be negotiations on a more durable truce.
Israeli and Palestinian delegations will "immediately" be going to Cairo for negotiations with the Egyptian government to try at reach a more permanent cease-fire, the State Department said.
*Fox News *
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