BRIEF CALM

72-Hour Israeli-Palestinian Truce Begins

Israeli troops leave Gaza Strip.

Israeli soldiers left the Gaza Strip on Tuesday in accordance with a 72-hour ceasefire agreed upon by both sides. Hamas bombarded Israel with rockets just before the ceasefire was set to take effect at 8 a.m. local time Tuesday. Israel said its goal of destroying cross-border tunnels had been achieved prior to the ceasefire’s start. “Today we completed the removal of this threat,” said Israel Defense Forces spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki said he planned to visit the International Criminal Court on Tuesday and push for war crime charges against Israel. Egypt brokered the ceasefire and has positioned itself as a mediator between the two sides. Still, there are no plans yet for discussions of a longer-term ceasefire. Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister said: “Quiet will be met with quiet.”