GAZA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A spokesman of the Islamic Hamas movement said on Monday night that Egypt has brokered a cease-fire between Israel and the Hamas-led militant groups in the Gaza Strip.
The announcement was made by Fawzi Barhoum in a short text message sent to reporters.
The cease-fire came into effect at 10 p.m. local time (1900 GMT), Bargoum said, adding it was agreed that both sides stop attacks at the same time.
Meanwhile, a senior source in Hamas told Xinhua that the Egyptian-brokered agreement was mediated by the UN peace envoy to the Middle East Nikolay Mladenov.
The Israeli cabinet earlier decided to strike military facilities and compounds that belong to Hamas and other militant groups in the Gaza Strip in response to an earlier rocket attack on central Israel that wounded seven Israelis.
During the Israeli airstrikes, the headquarters of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was completely destroyed, in addition to two security buildings.
Gaza Health Ministry said seven Palestinians were injured during Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.
