At 16:30 EDT SPIEGEL ONLINE posted an article whose title translates to Gaza conflict: Israel and Hamas agree to a 12-hour ceasefire. This comes a few hours after Netanyahu rejected John Kerry’s proposal for a seven-day truce.
During the ceasefire is supposed to provide an opportunity for the civilian population supply itself with food and water, the hospitals to stock up on medical supplies, and international aid organizations to provide humanitarian help.
A conference in Paris is supposed to smooth the way for a longer ceasefire. According to French diplomats it will include Laurent Fabius, the French Foreign Minister, John Kerry, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German Foreign Minister, their colleagues from Great Britain, Italy, Qatar, and Turkey, and Catherine Ashton, the EU representative for foreign affairs.
