Hamas says most demands met in cease-fire deal
Hamas dropped its insistence on an airport and seaport, but approved a final cease-fire that included the lifting of the siege.
![Hamas militants celebrate with people in what they said was a victory over Israel, in Gaza City Hamas militants celebrate with people in what they said was a victory over Israel, in Gaza City August 27, 2014. An open-ended ceasefire in the Gaza war held on Wednesday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced strong criticism in Israel over a costly conflict with Palestinian militants in which no clear victor emerged.
REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT POLITICS) - RTR43ZYV](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2014/08/RTR43ZYV.jpg/RTR43ZYV.jpg?h=c2c5b897&itok=FM9BLLf3)
Finally, the people of the Gaza Strip have achieved what they have been hoping for over the last 50 days of suffering, killing and displacement. On the evening of Aug. 26, at a news conference in Gaza City, attended by Al-Monitor, Hamas announced that they had reached a cease-fire agreement with Israel. The movement considered it a victory for the Palestinian people and the resistance, stressing that the truce agreement ensures the majority of the current Palestinian demands.
The announcement of the cease-fire came as the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said that the total number of victims of the latest Israeli aggression in Gaza had reached 2,142 dead, including 577 children and 102 senior citizens, in addition to more than 11,066 wounded.