Israelis, Palestinians extend truce by 24 hrs

A new 24-hour ceasefire came into effect in Gaza Strip on Tuesday after Israeli and Palestinian negotiators agreed to extend a 5-day truce, minutes before a midnight deadline, to allow for further talks on a long-term deal. News of the last-minute extension came from Cairo late Monday where Egyptian mediators have been pushing both sides to put a decisive end to weeks of bloodshed in Gaza, which has killed more than 2,000 Palestinians and 68 Israelis. The announcement was confirmed by both sides just minutes before the 5-day ceasefire was to expire at midnight local time (2100 GMT Monday). ‘Both sides have agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire,’ a senior Palestinian official said in Cairo on Tuesday. Israel also confirmed accepting the extension to allow talks on a longer-term deal to continue for another 24 hours, according to AFP.