CEASEFIRE WITH ISRAEL REACHED, HAMAS SAYS

GAZA, PALESTINIAN TERRITORY Gaza’s Hamas rulers said Wednesday they had agreed to a ceasefire with Israel to end the largest flareup of violence between the two sides since a 2014 war.

Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, said Egyptian mediators intervened “after the resistance succeeded in warding off the aggression.” He said militant groups in Gaza will commit to the cease-fire as long as Israel does. Israeli cabinet minister Arieh Deri told Israel’s Army Radio that he expected calm to be restored.

“If it will be quiet, we will respond with quiet. We’ve given Hamas a chance to prove that we can return to routine … If they release the reins there will be a very painful strike,” he said.

The Israeli military struck dozens of militant sites in Gaza overnight as rocket fire continued toward southern Israeli communities into early Wednesday morning.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel gave militant groups in Gaza “the strongest blow dealt to them in years,” and warned against renewed rocket fire.