3-day Ceasefire Between Israel and Hamas Begins

A 72-hour ceasefire, agreed upon by Israel as well as Hamas, has taken effect 8:00 am Tuesday after increasing international pressure for a truce to bring an end to one of the bloodiest fights between the two enemies in recent times.

"Israel will be honouring the ceasefire Tuesday at 8:00am (0500 GMT)," an Israeli official said, AFP reports.

"The onus is on Hamas. We are entering this with our eyes open. ...We have been burnt more than once," Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev told CNN.

Meanwhile, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: "Hamas informed Cairo a few minutes ago of their approval of the truce for 72 hours from tomorrow."

Israel and Hamas will hold indirect talks in Cairo, Egypt, to negotiate on a border deal so as to prevent future cross-border violence, the  Associated Press reports. A Palestinian delegation - which includes representatives of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Palestinian Authority - was already in Cairo.

Previously, the two parties agreed to a ceasefire post international attempts to broker a temporary truce deal; however, it proved futile.

Minutes before the ceasefire came into effect, Hamas fired a round of rockets, The Jerusalem Post reports.

Sources confirmed that one rocket was intercepted over Ashdod, while four more were intercepted over Kiryat Malachi.  One hit an open area outside of the community, causing no damage; while another struck a Sdot HaNegev community. Even though minor damages were reported, no one was injured.

On the other hand, the Israeli military claims that all its ground troops were out of Gaza by the start of the new ceasefire.

The war, which started July 8, has already claimed around 1,900 Palestinian lives - of which most were civilians. As many as 67 Israelis have also been killed, including three civilians.