ANOTHER "HUMANITARIAN" CEASE FIRE

Kerry, Ban Ki-moon announce three day humanitarian truce, spokesman says Hamas agrees to the ceasefire commencing at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning. NITED NATIONS/NEW DELHI - Israel and Islamist militant group Hamas have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire in their conflict in the Gaza Strip starting on Friday, US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday. The ceasefire will begin at 8 a.m. on Aug. 1, they said in a joint statement.

The statement said "forces on the ground will remain in place" during the truce, implying that Israeli ground forces will not withdraw. Hamas said it would abide by a three-day mutual ceasefire with Israel to begin early on Friday. "Acknowledging a call by the United Nations and in consideration of the situation of our people, resistance factions agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian and mutual calm that begins at 8 a.m on Friday as long as the other side abides by it," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said. "All the Palestinian factions are united behind the issue in this regard," Abu Zuhri said. ANOTHER "HUMANITARIAN" CEASE FIRE MEANS HAMAS WILL HAVE MORE TIME TO STOCK-STACK UP WITH ROCKETS....