GAZA, July 31 (UPI) -- Israel and Hamas agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian cease-fire Thursday, though forces were set to remain on the ground, U.S. and U.N. officials announced.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-mono and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced the deal in a joint statement, saying the truce is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Friday, or 1 a.m. ET, and will last for three days.