Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Screenshot.

JNS.org – A 72-hour humanitarian cease-fire for Hamas and Israel will begin on Friday, officials announced.

“The United Nations representative in Jerusalem, Special Coordinator Robert Serry, has received assurances that all parties have agreed to an unconditional humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza,” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a joint announcement with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

According to the terms, the cease-fire will begin at 8 a.m. local time in Israel on Friday, and Israeli ground troops will remain in place in Gaza.

Additionally, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will go to Cairo for additional talks concerning a longer-term cease-fire.

“Israeli and Palestinian delegations will immediately be going to Cairo for negotiations with the government of Egypt, at the invitation of Egypt, aimed at reaching a durable cease-fire. The parties will be able to raise all issues of concern in these negotiations,” the statement said.