Nation readies assistance for Palestine

Security delegations

Egypt will send security delegations to Israel and Palestine to ensure the implementation of the cease-fire, the official MENA news agency reported on Thursday.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who welcomed the deal, said Israelis and Palestinians now have a responsibility to have "a serious dialogue to address the root causes of the conflict".

He also called on the international community to work with the UN on a "robust package of support for a swift, sustainable reconstruction and recovery".

Zhang Jun, China's ambassador to the UN, said on Twitter: "Good news! Greater efforts needed to consolidate the progress, end the crisis for good, and seek a just settlement for the question of #Palestine. More actions should be taken to provide humanitarian aid to ease the people's suffering."

US President Joe Biden also welcomed the truce.

"I believe we have a genuine opportunity to make progress and I'm committed to working toward it," Biden said at the White House, hailing Egypt's role in brokering the agreement.

A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the security cabinet had "unanimously accepted the recommendation of all of the security officials ... to accept the Egyptian initiative for a mutual cease-fire without preconditions".

Fighting erupted earlier this month after weeks of tensions in Jerusalem, notably over planned evictions of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem to make way for Jewish settlers, and clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

The Israeli army said Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza have since fired more than 4,300 rockets toward Israel. The rockets have claimed 12 lives in Israel, including one child and an Israeli soldier, with one Indian and two Thai nationals among those killed, the police say.

Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed 232 Palestinians, including 65 children, and have wounded a further 1,900, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Zhou Jin in Beijing, agencies, Xinhua and Liu Yinmeng in Los Angeles contributed to this story.