Hamas accepts 72-hour ceasefire with Israel: spokesman

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP) - Hamas has accepted an Egyptian proposal for a 72-hour ceasefire with Israel set to begin Tuesday, a spokesman for the Islamist de facto rulers of Gaza said.

"Hamas informed Cairo a few minutes ago of their approval of the truce for 72 hours from tomorrow," spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told AFP.

The Islamic Jihad, which along with Israel and Hamas is to attend truce talks in Cairo, confirmed the imminent end to fighting.

"The ceasefire is arriving in the coming hours," the militant movement's deputy leader Ziad al-Nakhale said in a statement.

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