CAIRO Israel about a truce adopted HAMASand force on Wednesday night, ends a week of violence in and around the Gaza Strip that killed more than 160 people, Egypt and the United States said.
Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed Kamel Amr, speaking at a joint press conference in Cairo with us Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said that the cessation of hostilities would begin at 1900 GMT.
"The United States welcomes the agreement for a ceasefire today. The next few days the United States will cooperate with partners in the region to consolidate this progress, "said Clinton.
Almost told 24 hours after a truce had expected to keep Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Barack Obama he was ready to make the ceasefire a chance, but that "stronger action" would be needed if it is not, according to a statement from his Office.
Obama repeated his commitment to the security of Israel in turn and promised to search for resources for a common defence program, said the White House.
"A short time ago Netanyahu spoke with Obama and agreed to his recommendation to give a chance to an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire and thus a chance for the stabilisation of the situation and a calming," said a statement. He won praise from Obama.
Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal In Cairo was due to address a press conference after the announcement, Hamas sources said.
Hope for a truce appeared to have been just hours earlier as vague a blast tore through a bus in Tel Aviv, 18 people wounded and sparks of panic and Israel hit back with deadly air strikes on Gaza City and elsewhere in the Palestinian territories.
The explosion in Tel Aviv is very close to the Ministry of defence of the Israeli occurred and was quickly denounced by Netanyahu's spokesman, who tweeted: "this was a terrorist attack".
Condemnation poured in, with Washington branding it "scandalous", denouncing it as a "criminal", Moscow and France and Germany demands an urgent and permanent truce in Gaza.
The chances of a ceasefire appeared dim only hours earlier, with UN chief Ban Ki-moon said after talks in Egypt with President Mohamed Morsi that there are still "a lot of details to work out".
"Everyone knows there are many details to work out, but as long as that happens, citizens continue to die and cities be directed. And that is why we need a cease-fire now, immediately, "he told reporters in Cairo.
Israel launched its offensive on 14 November with the targeted killing of a military leader of Hamas. Since then, Palestinians and five Israelis killed 148.
It came as Israel heads to general elections in January, and the specter of a broader military campaign along the lines of the Jewish State devastating 22-day operation launched at the end of December 2008.
Earlier in Doha Qatar Cabinet condemned the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip resulting in the deaths of and injuries to a large number of citizens.
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