Palestinian Cease Fire Watch

Mon, Jan 29, 2007 at 7:58:00 pm PST

Apparently, we’re not supposed to laugh: Hamas, Fatah declare new cease-fire.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Warring Hamas and Fatah factions in the Gaza Strip declared a cease-fire early Tuesday in an effort to end factional fighting that has left more than 60 Palestinians dead in the past two months.

The cease-fire was agreed at a midnight meeting between Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas and a representative of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of the rival Fatah. Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar of Hamas said it would go into effect at 3 a.m. local time.

Zahar spoke after the meeting, flanked by Hamas and Fatah representatives and by Egyptian mediators. As he spoke, gunfire and explosions could still be heard in Gaza City.