Seeking Peace: 12 Hour Humanitarian Truce in Gaza

Seeking Peace: 12 Hour Humanitarian Truce in Gaza

A 12 hour humanitarian truce has come into effect on Saturday following the agreement of both Israel and Palestine to a UN request for a pause in fighting at the request of the United Nations. Efforts are on to secure long-term ceasefire so that peace may be restored to Gaza.

The Gaza Health Ministry has indicated that 18 members of a family were killed by Israeli tank shelling in southern Gaza strip after the truce took effect at 8:00 am (0500 GMT). Confirmation from Israel is said to be forthcoming on this.

Israel's military has indicated that it would hold fire for 12 hours while it will continue searching for tunnels used by militants. Spokesperson for Hamas has also indicated that all Palestinian factions would abide by the truce. Following the truce, media reports have indicated that Palestinians took to the streets to inspect the damage from the assault so far while others sought to withdraw cash and stock up on supplies.

Fighting has continued for weeks now. US Secretary of State John Kerry on a trip to the region spearheaded global efforts to end the conflict. In the 19 day conflict, 884 Palestinians and 37 Israelis have been killed so far. Diplomats are working to secure a ceasefire in Paris while France is hosting officials from the US as well as Britain, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Qatar and the EU .

Israel and Palestine are being encouraged to come to a peace agreement. A US diplomat has been quoted as saying serious progress has been made. More remains to be accomplished. Hamas wants the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza to end before hostilities are halted. Israel has indicated that any ceasefire will only be agreed to by it if it is allowed the to carry on locating and identifying Hamas's tunnel network in the Gaza border .

Israel has indicated that many of these tunnels serve as bunkers or caches for storing weapons. Meanwhile, the conflict between the 2 is leading to a massive humanitarian crisis as the turmoil between the two has stoked tension in east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank which Mahmoud Abbas governs in coordination with Israel.

Recently, 10,000 demonstrators marched in solidarity with Gaza near the Palestinian administrative capital Ramallah. Protestors moved against an Israeli army checkpoint where a confrontation resulted. Efforts are on to secure peace in the Middle East. Abbas's Palestine Liberation Organization is working to secure a cease-fire deal in collaboration with Israel and Hamas.