A cease-fire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip came into force at 8:00 this morning. Israel agreed to accept the Egyptian proposal for a 72-hour cease-fire. During this period, indirect talks will be held between the sides on a long-term truce. The IDF has withdrawn its ground forces from the Gaza Strip. Diplomatic sources said last night that Israel had insisted that the cease-fire should be without pre-conditions, and it comes into force after the completion of the operation to destroy terrorist tunnels in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, the sources said, Israel is ready for the possibility that the cease-fire will be breached. RELATED ARTICLES Crushing Hamas is not a smart idea BoI: Economy weakened even before Protective Edge Shortly before 8:00, there were heavy salvoes of rockets fired at Ashdod, Beersheva, and the Jerusalem, Rishon Lezion and Rehovot areas. Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 5, 2014 © Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2013