Hamas agrees Gaza ceasefire as Israeli troops withdraw

Hamas has announced a one-week ceasefire after Israel said it was pulling its forces back to the Gaza border and suspending the 22-day war. It issued a statement saying it would halt rocket strikes as long as troops were taken out of Gaza within a week and the borders of the devastated enclave were opened up to international aid.

In the absence of a full ceasefire agreement, the Israelis said the decision to wind-up Operation Cast Lead remained under review. Twenty rockets were fired by militants, drawing retaliatory fire but no resumption of the bombardments and fierce fighting of previous days which have left more than 1,300 dead. (Emphasis added.)

If both sides are still shooting, where’s the cease fire?

I know, I know. Why be logical about these things and expect words to mean anything in the media, and/or diplospeak.

The Chief is just old-fashioned that way, I guess.