(VOVworld) – A 72-hour cease-fire in the Gaza strip, proposed by Egypt, came into effect on Tuesday.

A Palestinian man carries belongings salvaged from his ruined home in the village of Khuza’a, once home to 10,000 people. (Photo: EPA)

Reuteurs and AFP news agencies said that minutes before the ceasefire came into effect, Hamas had launched long-range rockets into central Israel to retaliate against earlier Israeli “massacres” in Gaza, while the Israeli air-force also conducted 5 air-strikes on the Gaza strip. No casualties from the attacks have been reported so far.
Peter Lerner, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Force, said that Israel had withdrawn all of its forces from the Gaza strip. He said that the withdrawal order had been issued as the Israeli army had destroyed all Hamas’ tunnels across the border. Lerner added that Israel would still deploy troops to stations in Gaza, in case of Hamas attacks. 
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on Israel and Hamas to practice restraint, respect the new cease-fire, and begin talks on a long-term truce and other essential issues in Cairo as soon as possible.