Gaza's Hamas rulers say cease-fire reached with Israel

By: The Associated Press

Wednesday, May 30, 2018 12:05 AM

JERUSALEM (AP) Gaza's Hamas rulers say they have agreed to a cease-fire with Israel to end the largest flare-up of violence between the sides since a 2014 war.

Khalil al-Haya, a senior Hamas official, says Wednesday that Egyptian mediators intervened "after the resistance succeeded in warding off the aggression."

He said militant groups in Gaza will commit to the cease-fire as long as Israel does. Israeli Cabinet minister Naftali Bennett told Israel's Army Radio no agreement has been reached yet.

The Israeli military struck dozens of militant sites in Gaza overnight as rocket fire continued toward southern Israeli communities into early Wednesday morning.

The border area has been tense in recent weeks as Palestinians have held mass protests aimed at lifting an Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed after Hamas seized power in 2007.

Gaza's Hamas rulers say cease-fire reached with Israel

Flames of rockets fired by Palestinian militants are seen over Gaza Strip toward Israeli lands, early Wednesday, May 30, 2018. Palestinian militants bombarded southern Israel with dozens of rockets and mortar shells Tuesday, while Israeli warplanes struck targets throughout the Gaza Strip in the largest flare-up of violence between the sides since a 2014 war. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

The Associated Press

CORRECTS NAME OF PHOTOGRAPHER - Flames of rockets fired by Palestinian militants are seen over Gaza Strip toward Israeli lands, early Wednesday, May 30, 2018. Palestinian militants bombarded southern Israel with dozens of rockets and mortar shells while Israeli warplanes struck targets throughout the Gaza Strip in the largest flare-up of violence between the sides since a 2014 war. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

The Associated Press

Smoke rises following an Israeli strikes on Gaza City, early Wednesday, May 30, 2018. Palestinian militants bombarded southern Israel with dozens of rockets and mortar shells while Israeli warplanes struck targets throughout the Gaza Strip in the largest flare-up of violence between the sides since a 2014 war. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

The Associated Press

Smoke rises following an Israeli strikes on Gaza City, early Wednesday, May 30, 2018. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired at least 50 rockets and mortars into southern Israel on Tuesday, the largest barrage since the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

The Associated Press