Al Jazeera.
As life in Gaza began to show signs that it was returning to normal,
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak warned that Israel may resume its
attacks any time if a truce that ended a week of bloodshed fails to
hold.
The ceasefire "can last nine days, nine weeks or more, but if it does
not hold we will know what to do, and then of course we shall consider
the possibility of resuming our (military) activity in case of shooting
or provocation," he told public radio on Thursday.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh held a press briefing on Thursday and
thanked Egypt and "believer" Mohamed Morsi for his country's efforts in
securing the ceasefire saying Gaza's victory is clear and the moment for
Egypt and the region had arrived.
"I thank our Egyptian brothers and Egyptian intelligence for their
tireless efforts to reach the ceasefire. We are satisfied with the
ceasefire agreement as a basis for stopping aggression against Gaza."
The morning after it took effect, the ceasefire was being honoured in
the Gaza Strip, after eight days of cross-border violence that resulted
in the deaths of 162 Palestinians and five Israelis.
Obtained after an intense diplomatic push led by Egypt and the US,
the truce came into force at 1900 GMT on Wednesday, based on text of the
agreement.
After days and nights cooped up at home, their buildings rocked by an
unrelenting Israeli bombing campaign and the sound of outgoing
Palestinian rocket fire, residents were eager to reclaim their hometowns
and their lives as the truce came into effect.
For the first time in more than a week, the noise of traffic jams and
honking horns filled the air in Gaza City, replacing the booms of air
strikes and rocket fire.
Al Jazeera's Nicole Johnston, reporting from Gaza City, said that
there was calm in the city without the sound of the F16's flying above.
