Israel, Palestinians Extend Gaza Ceasefire For 24 Hours: Official

Report: Israel, Palestinians Extend Gaza Truce
Palestinians flee their destroyed neighbourhood to take shelter in a United Nations school for the night in the northern Gaza Strip city of Beit Hanun, on August 18, 2014. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel will hit back hard if Palestinian rocket attacks from Gaza resume, speaking just hours before the midnight expiry of a five-day ceasefire. AFP PHOTO / THOMAS COEX (Photo credit should read THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images)
Palestinians flee their destroyed neighbourhood to take shelter in a United Nations school for the night in the northern Gaza Strip city of Beit Hanun, on August 18, 2014. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel will hit back hard if Palestinian rocket attacks from Gaza resume, speaking just hours before the midnight expiry of a five-day ceasefire. AFP PHOTO / THOMAS COEX (Photo credit should read THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images)

CAIRO/JERUSALEM, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Israeli and Palestinian officials said on Monday they had agreed to extend a Gaza ceasefire by another 24 hours to allow time for the sides to continue negotiations for terms of a possible agreement.

The deal was confirmed in Cairo and then Jerusalem minutes before a five-day ceasefire was due to expire. A Palestinian official close to the talks in Cairo said the extension would give both sides time "to complete the negotiations".

An Israeli official and security source said in Jerusalem that "on Egypt's request the ceasefire shall be extended by 24 hours to allow further negotiations."

(Additional reporting by Stephen Kalin in Cairo; Writing by Allyn Fisher-Ilan)

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